SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid expects to break the club's transfer record to bring in a top-notch striker this summer.

Brazilian central defender Emerson Thome, who cost £4.5m when he moved from Chelsea this season, is currently the highest-priced acquisition in the club's history, but the Wearside boss, who has just signed a new four-year contract, has the full backing of his board of directors to make an even bigger splash in the transfer market.

Reid has built up a comprehensive scouting system on the Continent and in South America and has prepared a short list of likely targets as he tries to take the club into Europe.

Uncertainty about possible changes in EC transfer regulations has made some clubs cautious about committing themselves to paying out major transfer fees, but the top players are still moving between clubs for huge amounts.

Reid said: "The transfer market is going through a phase where people are not sure how it is going to turn out with players' contracts, but transfer fees have still held up.

"I would not be surprised if our club transfer record is broken during the close season."

Reid confirmed: "I have always got lists of players we are interested in, but it boils down to whether you can get these players.

"But I think Sunderland football club is now more attractive in Europe after two years in the big league doing well.

"People are now very much more aware of us over there."

Reid has transformed Sunderland, in his six years in charge, from a club threatened with relegation to the Second Division to an ambitious outfit yearning to take the next major step forward into European competition - and he knows he is expected to produce some silverware to qualify for the huge rewards contained in his new deal.

He said: "I expect us to be there or thereabouts in the cup competitions next season.

"We finished seventh in the Premiership last year and we can still finish sixth or seventh this year. If you are there two years on the trot it shows it is no fluke.

"The next four years are very important to the club and we need to win trophies. If I am here for a long time we will have achieved that goal."

Sunderland have again been linked with giant Czech striker Jan Koller, who seemed to be destined to move from his club, Anderlecht, to money-bags Fulham, newly promoted to the Premiership.

But the 6ft 8in giant, seen by many as a natural successor to Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn in the Sunderland team, is not yet committed to a move to London.

It is understood that Reid had again made contact with Koller's agent, Pavel Pasca, following the decision of French target Pierre-Yves Andre to French champions-elect Nantes. But Reid has denied new interest in Arsenal's England international midfielder Ray Parlour.

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