The Black Cats have been linked with the likes of Wigan star Charles N’Zogbia, Manchester City ace Adam Johnson and Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing.
Bruce said: “We are in a position now where, to get better than what we have got – for instance, if there was X amount of pounds to spend, I would spend it on one player.
“I would think we are at that sort of level now. But to get a player like that, who I have in mind, they are simply not available. I wouldn’t have thought they are available, anyway.
“We will just have to be patient and wait for the right one.
“Sometimes in January, you have to give yourself an injection or give your club a lift.
“I don’t think we need that at this particular moment unless the right one becomes available – and if he does, believe me, I will knock on the chairman’s door.
“I don’t think the players we are looking for in January will be available, so if they are not available, I am not going to go and just add to the numbers.
“We will have to be patient and look and wait until we can do something, which is possibly in the summer.”
