... he braved the wind and rain on Wednesday to check out the midfielder in Newcastle United's Carling Cup victory over Portsmouth.Keane left at half-time, but knows enough of the player after their glory days at Old Trafford.
However, Butt's wages of £40,000-a-week have put off bigger clubs than Sunderland. I'm not saying Glenn Roeder wouldn't sell, because he said he would listen to offers for him last summer, but can the Mackems get the money together to make a serious bid?
Having already sold Amdy Faye and Lee Bowyer, he is short on cover for Scott Parker and Emre, but the ex-Man U midfielder has had a very chequered career since Sir Bobby Robson signed him for £4m. And getting him off the wage bill has long been seen as a priority.