STEVE BRUCE wants to pull off Sunderland’s first signing of the summer before the World Cup starts in June by reaching a pre-contract agreement for Paraguay midfielder Cristian Riveros.

Bruce, hoping to cement the Black Cats’ place in the top ten by disrupting Manchester United’s Premier League title chances on Sunday, has tracked Riveros for the last few months.

The Sunderland manager would only say “he’s one we’re monitoring” yesterday, although it is thought an agreement is close to being reached with the player’s representatives.

Riveros, with 43 caps for his country, is expected to be a prominent part of Paraguay’s World Cup push along with Sunderland defender Paulo Da Silva, who has recommended his compatriot to Bruce.

The 27-year-old’s contract with Mexican club Cruz Azul, where he moved three years ago after leaving Club Libertad in his homeland, is up at the end of June, when he will be free to move for nothing.

Jose Maria Gonzalez, the player’s agent, hinted his player will be moving on after the World Cup earlier this week and only yesterday, speaking in Mexico, Riveros claimed to reporters a deal with Sunderland was close.

Bruce is determined to make the adjustments to his squad which he feels are necessary for next season’s push for a European place in the Premier League, after enduring a three-month spell either side of the new year when his squad was stretched.

And while he will be backed financially by the club’s American owner Ellis Short, the Sunderland boss is also keen to invest in his squad wisely, with the attraction of Riveros appealing.

Bruce, however, is also intent on making signings capable of enjoying the sort of impact which Darren Bent has enjoyed in his first season on Wearside, which could prove to be more costly.

Bent’s 25 goals this season have not only pushed Sunderland in to the top half of the Premier League they have also propelled him on to the fringes of a World Cup place.

The £10m man will be watched in action against Manchester United on Sunday by Fabio Capello’s assistant with England, Franco Baldini, at the Stadium of Light. In many respects that could be his best, and last, chance to force his way on to the plane to South Africa.

“I know England representatives are here at the weekend,”

said Bruce. “Darren has scored something like nine in nine games since Christmas, so surely, surely, he must be in with an outstanding chance.

“Whatever team you play for, international or domestic, you need somebody to score you a goal and, God forbid, should something happen to Rooney, you’ve got to ask whether England have got enough firepower to score those goals. Darren hasn’t just done it this year, he’s done it repeatedly. We know he’s capable of doing it in a big league.”

There is a growing feeling Bent will only go to the finals if Capello opts to take five strikers, which would pit Bent in direct competition with Bobby Zamora, Carlton Cole and Gabriel Agbonlahor to join Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch in the squad.

And Bruce has been stunned to see Zamora has been flagged as a more suitable contender for the role than his prolific buy from Tottenham in some quarters.

Bruce said: “No disrespect, but I think that’s the London press. No disrespect to Bobby Zamora, because he’s had a wonderful season, but for me he’s nowhere near Bent.

Nowhere near and if we’re talking about Bent and Zamora in the same breath… “Even last year I think Darren got 18 in the Premier League for Spurs and half of them were as a sub. Zamora has had a one-off, he used to get five or six a year. Benty got 22 for Charlton, a team that got relegated, a few years ago.”

Bent’s heroics for Sunderland this season were rewarded yesterday when he was named the club’s player of the year. “What an honour,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of my first season here and it just keeps getting better and better. it’s been a great week after hitting by 25- goal target at Hull, now this.”