Sunderland had an offer for Andy Reid and Calum Davenport that was rejected last week,but Quinn may have gone back to spurs with a better offer for Reid.
"We've enquired about five Premiership players and we've bid for four," Quinn told The Northern Echo.
"You feel we've got to really tempt them"
"Money tempts them but if we could get them to see the training ground and the spirit in the stadium then we'll get there.
"All the bids have been seven-figure.
"We've made bids for four or five Premiership players, plus one in Europe and we're very close to another player in Europe."
One of the other bids may be made for the former Sunderland stiker Kevin Phillips.