UNDER-PRESSURE Sunderland boss Peter Reid is ready to make a last-ditch attempt to lure Robbie Keane away from Leeds - and is setting up a £2m deal for Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger.

Reid, desperate to land a striker before this weekend's transfer deadline, had a reported £9m bid for Keane accepted by Leeds in the close season.

But the Republic of Ireland World Cup star refused to talk to Sunderland and vowed to fight for his place at Elland Road.

Now, however, Keane is seeking urgent assurances about his first-team future from manager Terry Venables, after failing to make the starting line-up in Leeds' opening two games.

That has alerted Reid to the possibility of reviving a deal, even though Venables wants to hold on to the 22-year-old hero of the Republic's Far-East campaign this summer.

Venables has so far preferred Mark Viduka and Alan Smith to Keane, who said: "I love playing for Leeds.

"They are a fantastic club and can offer me everything I want in terms of ambitions and achievement.

"I realise no professional footballer can be given a cast-iron guarantee of first-team football. I am willing to battle it out with anyone for a place because I thrive on competition.

"But, at this stage of my career, I cannot afford to spend week after week on the subs' bench waiting for a chance to impress in the closing stages of games.''

Keane, also a target for Tottenham boss Glenn Hoddle, scored a stunning goal when he came on as a late substitute in Leeds' opening-day 3-0 home win over Manchester City, and was a replacement again in Saturday's 3-1 victory at West Brom.

Reid has still not given up hope of persuading £6m-rated Norway striker Tore Andre Flo to leave Rangers.

But with the deadline looming, Reid is understood to have lined up a season-long loan deal for Nantes frontman Pierre Yves Andre, with an option to complete a £4m transfer next summer.

Reid has also been linked with Barcelona's 21-year-old striker Roberto Trashorras.

Meanwhile, Reid hopes to snap up Czech Republic star Berger. The 28-year-old schemer, who moved to Anfield after impressing at Euro '96, is anxious to resurrect his career following lengthy injury problems.

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