SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid has recruited another teenager from abroad - striker David Bellion, from French club AS Cannes.

And the exciting 19-year-old comes on the recommendation of former Wearside midfielder Eric Roy, who is acting as an advisor in his native France to Sunderland boss Peter Reid.

Reid, who has an intricate network of scouts throughout Europe and South America, has snapped up Bellion on a Bosman free transfer from the Division Two side which, in the past, has produced outstanding young players like Zinedine Zindane and Patrick Vieira.

Paris-born Bellion, who has signed a two-year contract, said: "I am very happy to be coming to Sunderland and I am looking forward to mmeeting and training with the team on Monday.

"I have followed the Premiership on television and I have been very impressed with Sunderland and the atmosphere at the Stadium of Light."

Reid said: "He is a young player with a lot of potential - he's got excellent pace and has really impressed me."

Reid has maintained close contact with Roy since his departure nearly a year ago on a free transfer after his £200,000 move from Marseilles in August 1999.

Reid said: "Eric and I have kept in touch and he is a person whose opinion I value.

"He has extensive contacts and a great knowledge of what's happening in France."

Reid has already spent £3.6m bringing Bordeaux striker Lilian Laslandes to the Premiership, and he has utilised Roy's comprehensive knowledge of French football as he has drawn up a list of other possible targets.

He said: "Eric was an excellent buy for us and did an important job for us on the pitch.

"We wished him well when he left - he was a good professional - and we stay in touch."

Bellion is the second teenager to be snapped up by Reid on a free transfer following the signing last month of promising Dutch central defender Baki Mercimek.

Reid also agreed to pay Argentinos Juniors £3.5m for youth international midfielder Nicolas Medina, who has helped Argentina to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Youth Championship alongside Sunderland team-mate Julio Arca.

* Crewe boss Dario Gradi has had a bid accepted for Sunderland's Chris Lumson, who spent three months on loan at Gresty Road last season.

"We have had a bid accepted by Sunderland for Chris, but it is up to him to contact me now. I have spoken to his father and the boy knows what we can offer him.

"If he wants to come to Crewe then he has to act quickly. I thought he was enthusiastic about joining us, but I haven't spoken to him and I don't particularly want to deal through an agent. He could do a job for us on the flank and we would be able to play a different way.''

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