SUNDERLAND are hoping to tie up a deal to bring Spanish striker Raul Tamudo to the club.

Tamudo has been on manager Peter Reid's wanted list all summer and now the front-man is understood to be stepping closer to a move to the Stadium of Light.

Reid hopes to conclude a deal to bring the £7m-rated Espanyol star to Wearside before the start of the Premiership campaign a week today.

But the Black Cats chief could face competition from Chelsea - though the cash-strapped Blues are not thought to be in a position to splash the cash until they have off-loaded some of their high-earners.

Tamudo's agent, Tomas Ruiz Duran, admitted that his player would move to England and the pair are due to hold negotiations on these shores within the next few days. Duran said: "Yes Sunderland have been talking and Chelsea are interested too, but the club that seems to be most interested is Sunderland.

"Next week we are getting together, although talks right now have just been club-to-club and neither myself nor Raul have been involved."

Tamudo is seen by Reid as the man to partner hot-shot Kevin Phillips in the Sunderland attack.

The Wearsiders have already failed in a bid to bring Leeds' Robbie Keane to the North-East and they have inquired about Ajax front-man Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Reid has been continuing his search throughout the summer but, with the transfer window set to close on August 31 for top-flight clubs, time is running out to find fresh blood.

Meanwhile, under-fire Reid has cut short his stay on the club's pre-season tour of Spain.

The former Everton and England midfielder, who witnessed his side lose 1-0 to Seville on Thursday, returned yesterday in time to carry out a spying mission on the Wearsiders' first two Premiership opponents. Assistant manager Adrian Heath has been left in charge of the Sunderland team, which will take on Algeciras later today.

But Reid watched Blackburn - who Sunderland open the season against in seven days - take on Italian giants Lazio last night, and he is due to be in the Goodison Park stands this afternoon for Atletico Madrid's clash at Everton - who Reid's men entertain on August 24.

Phillips suffered an injury scare during the Seville defeat, but his manager expects him to be fit for the start of the 2002-03 campaign.

The 29-year-old had to be stretchered off following a clash of heads with the Spaniards' Javi Navarro after just six minutes.

A relieved Reid said: "Kevin has had stitches in the back of his head. But at this moment in time, I think everyone will be all right for the start of the season if they come through Saturday," said Reid.

Meanwhile, Sunderland's summer signing Phil Babb has held his hands up for his mistake that led to Seville's winning goal on Thursday. A weak back pass header from Babb, a free transfer from Sporting Lisbon, allowed Antonio to nip in and score the game's only goal.

And the 30-year-old said: "It was my fault. The ball came down and I lost it for a fraction of a second in the floodlight."

* Sunderland stars Jason McAteer and Kevin Kilbane have been called up for the Rep. of Ireland ahead of their clash with Finland.

* Sunderland reserves will be taking part in the Albany ULR Durham County Challenge Cup.

The Cup is competed for by all the senior Clubs in the county with a total of 44 teams taking part.

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