SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid must redouble his desperate search for a striker after confirmation that Chelsea's Eidur Gudjohnsen is staying at Stamford Bridge.

Reid, who has incurred the wrath of angry fans for failing to find a new strike partner for Kevin Phillips, could now focus his attention on Derby County's Malcolm Christie as the clock ticks towards the closure of the transfer window at the end of the month.

Icelandic international Gudjohnsen had emerged as Reid's top target after Republic of Ireland World Cup star Robbie Keane turned down the chance to talk to Sunderland when the Wearsiders agreed a reported £8m fee with Leeds last month.

Chelsea's financial crisis - they are almost £100m in debt - was expected to force them to sell £12m-rated Gudjohnsen, who moved from Bolton for £4m two years ago.

Reid had hoped to press his interest this week and seal a deal to pacify Sunderland's increasingly disgruntled followers. But Gudjohnsen's Tyneside-based agent, Peter Harrison, last night insisted: "He will be staying at Chelsea.

"It has always been the case that he wanted to stay there. He's very happy at Chelsea. We're just trying to get him an increase on his salary and I'm in talks with Chelsea. Everything is OK there.

"Obviously we're aware of Sunderland's interest and he's flattered by that.

"They're such a big club. Although they haven't had the best of times lately, they've done fairly well since they got back into the Premiership.

"But Eidur is happy at Chelsea and he's now just concentrating on what's happening on the pitch instead of all the speculation off the pitch.''

Reid, confronted by an irate fan who invaded the pitch and showered with water by another in separate incidents during last week's tour of Belgium, sends his side into tonight's friendly in Seville knowing he is running out of options as he frantically seeks a top-class frontline recruit.

England Under-21 international Christie is on his shortlist and relegated Derby are likely to accept an offer of around £7m.

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