FORMER Swedish international Stefan Schwarz could be the next big-money signing to be shown the door by Sunderland.

French striker Lilian Laslandes, who cost £3.6 last summer, has joined Bundesliga club Cologne on loan with a view to a permanent move, and now Schwarz, a then club-record £4m buy from Valencia in July 1999, looks set to move on after dropping out of first-team contention.

Schwarz, who was not even on the substitutes' bench for the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at the hands of First Division West Bromwich Albion last weekend has been strongly linked to Glasgow Rangers, but it looks unlikely that the Scottish giants will throw him a football life-line. Ibrox boss Alex McLeish admitted: "Stefan Schwarz's name has been put forward to us but I haven't had look at him.

"He is the type of player we are looking for, although not him particularly. We don't know what his legs are like at this stage of his career and we also can't say what the state of affairs is between him and Sunderland. But that type of midfield player would be ideal."

McLeish looks to be searching for a younger version of Schwarz, and there have been suggestions of a £2.2m bid for Fulham's former Sunderland midfielder Lee Clark.

Schwarz must be concerned about his future on Wearside after being out of action for two months and seeing his central midfield role being taken by the up-and-coming Paul Thirlwell and then £4.5m buy from Rangers, Claudio Reyna, though the Unites States captain is currently out of action with a ankle injury and is unlikely to play at Everton on Saturday.

Schwarz, who decided to retire from international football last year after winning 69 caps to concentrate on his club career following his recovery from two serious ankle injuries, is a high wage-earner at Sunderland and his departure, hard on the heels of Laslandes, could clear the way for a major incoming transfer.

*Sunderland's next two reserve games, against Manchester United and Newcastle United, are to be played at the Stadium of Light on January 21 and February 11th.

Season ticket holders will be given free tickets on the night of the games, which are being switched from New Ferens Park, Durham, on production of the appropriate vouchers, while others can pay £2 at the turnstiles.

Sunderland's next reserve fixture, at Sheffield Wednesday, has been put back 24 hours to next Wednesday.

Read more about Sunderland here.