SUNDERLAND'S bid to sign Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke could hinge on the defending Premiership champions' move for flamboyant Paolo Di Canio from West Ham.

Wearside boss Peter Reid is desperate to increase his firepower after a seventh away defeat of the season at Everton, and Yorke could be the perfect partner for leading scorer Kevin Phillips.

But while United want to take Di Canio to Old Trafford they are hesitant about an asking price of £3m.

Reid is sifting through a list of possible targets and, with the full backing of chairman Bob Murray, is prepared to pay out a club record fee to find an answer to a scoring problem which threatens to suck Sunderland into the danger-zone.

Reid has confirmed his interest in Yorke: "I have looked at the position of Dwight Yorke at Manchester United but there are plenty of other players that we are also looking at," he said.

Sunderland fans are furious about the lack of progress this season. Reid, however, has made it clear that there is no chance of him resigning - but he knows that to quell a supporters' rebellion he must boost the firepower of a team which has scored only seven goals in the last ten games.

The departure to Cologne of French flop Lilian Laslandes makes it imperative Reid secures a new striker - his only recognised reserve behind Phillips and Niall Quinn is 20-year-old Kevin Kyle.

Although he has his entire scouting system on alert it looks as though Reid could concentrate his efforts on signing Yorke, who has also attracted attention from Fulham, who travel to the Stadium of Light on Saturday looking for a double which would really pile the pressure on the Wearsiders.

Yorke has indicated that he would be interested in a big-money move to Craven Cottage, and it was suggested that he would take a £5,000 cut in wages to £20,000 a week to move to the London club, but Fulham boss Jean Tigana is understood to value the player at only £3m - less than half United's asking price.

Reid, desperate as he is, would also be reluctant to pay out £7m - but could make a move if he can persuade Sir Alex Ferguson to cut his valuation.

Reid is bitterly disappointed that Laslandes did not make the grade in English football saying: "I watched Lilian for Bordeaux and he was terrific. You can't legislate for what happened and it is my job now to bring in another striker, which I am trying to do."

Meanwhile young French winger David Bellion could have earned himself a first team opening with his performance after coming on as a second half substitute at Goodison Park. Reid said: "David can go past people. Pace has not been in our make-up this season and even though David has a lot to learn he is pacey and can go at people, which is something we are looking at."

Sunderland were again linked last night with German international striker Carsten Jancker, who is out of favour at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and is available for a fee of around £7m