SUNDERLAND'S highly-rated goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has admitted he is flattered by Arsenal's interest in him.

The Premiership champions are understood to be considering a summer approach for the Danish No 1, as manager Arsene Wenger tries to find a replacement for veteran David Seaman.

And Sorensen, who would cost around £3m in today's transfer market, has revealed he is pleased to have been linked with the Gunners.

"Arsenal? I haven't heard anything official," said Sorensen, who was once rated at more than £10m. "If Arsenal really are interested in me, it is positive because they are one of the really big clubs.

"Otherwise, I don't want to comment on it. Time will tell what will happen."

Sorensen's contract expires at the end of next season, and with the arrival of Mart Poom from Derby County in January, Howard Wilkinson could choose to sell one of his prize assets.

Manchester United have also shown an interest in the 26-year-old in the past, but long time admirers Arsenal are thought to be most keen.

Sorensen only returned to the Sunderland first team on January 11 after nearly three months out with a dislocated shoulder.

And should Arsenal make a bid in the close-season it is difficult to see how the Black Cats could turn a serious bid down, particularly if relegation becomes reality.

But Sorensen has called for all of the Sunderland squad to pull together in a last bid to climb to safety.

Wilkinson's men are now seven points adrift of fourth from bottom Bolton with ten games to go.

And Sorensen said: "We have still got to play all the other teams at the bottom, so we can still save ourselves.

"I hope the turning point comes soon, but we just have to continue to fight. There is only one way out of this and that is through hard work."

Meanwhile Sunderland's French misfit Lilian Laslandes has slammed former boss Peter Reid for ruining the player's chances of success on Wearside.

Laslandes, currently starring as skipper while on loan at Bastia, was shipped out after failing to find his form at the Stadium of Light.

And the former French international said: "I signed with some fear because I know I need to be happy to play well on the pitch and I was not certain to be so in England.

"At the beginning it went smoothly but at the start of the Premiership season, the team was playing typically kick-and-rush British football.

"After five matches, I met Peter Reid to tell him if he was going to play that way he should have kept Niall Quinn in the team but his reply left me rooted to the spot - 'Wait little Frenchman, you won't teach us how to play football!'

"It was a year I quickly forgot. After a few other bust-ups I didn't wear the Sunderland shirt anymore."

* Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle was in the Scotland squad that flew out for a friendly with Turkey yesterday.

The 21-year-old was a surprise call-up by Scots boss Berti Vogts and he could play up front alongside former teammate Don Hutchison.

Kyle has been left out of Wilkinson's match day squad recently, and he is determined to impress on the international stage ahead of next month's Euro 2004 qualifiers against Iceland and Lithuania.

"This gives Scotland's fringe players the chance to impress the manager," he said. "If I can do that, then maybe I'll be involved in the qualifiers next month."

* Sunderland have started to returf the Stadium of Light pitch. The process, which began after the Middlesbrough game, is expected to take five days.

* York City supporters claim to have earned their club a stay of execution by raising £50,000 to keep the Minstermen in business.

York have been in administration since December, and funding to keep the club afloat was due to run out yesterday.

But bucket collections during the 1-1 draw with Bury on Saturday raised an estimated £20,000, while another £25,000 had already been banked before the clash with the Shakers.

Collections at other clubs around the country this weekend also helped raise extra cash.

Trust spokesperson Steve Beck said: ''In the space of just four days, around £50,000 has been raised in the fight to save City from extinction.

''It has been an overwhelming response, not just from City fans, but from football supporters around the country and beyond."

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