SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid revealed last night that he was still on the lookout to add to his five new summer signings.

And the Wearside boss - who is running the rule over French striker Cedric Bardon in the club's three-match tour of Holland - stressed that he would not be afraid to spend £10m if the finances were in place and the right player became available.

In a question-and-answer session with supporters on the club's website Reid confirmed that he was still trying to strengthen his first-team squad in a bid to qualify for Europe next season.

He said: "Hopefully I will get a few more in - I am looking to make more signings. I think it does increase competition to have players fighting for their places."

So far Reid has not broken the bank with his close-season incursions into the transfer market - his biggest outlay so far has been the £3.5m earmarked for 19-year-old Argentinian defender Julio Arca in a five-deal deal which will be completed when the player, who has Italian ancestry, receives his passport.

Reid's other signings have been Scottish international midfielder Don Hutchison (£2.5m), Slovakian international Stanislav Varga (£650,000), Belgian midfielder Tom Peeters (£250,000) and Austrian goalkeeper Jurgen Macho (free).

Meanwhile Reid was looking on the bright side last night despite Sunderland's 3-2 defeat by Dutch first division side Fortuna Sittard.

Goals in each half from Chris Makin and Danny Dichio couldn't stop the Wearsiders losing for the third time in four pre-season games.

Boss Reid criticised some of the defending that allowed Ruud Kool and two-goal Dennis Gerritsen to snatch victory for the home side.

But he expressed himself satisfied with Sunderland's approach play and reckons his players are gearing up nicely for the new Premiership season.

Reid said: "I was pleased with the way we played and we passed it around well.

"We let in sloppy goals but we looked a lot sharper and we are definitely improving."

French trialist Cedric Bardon didn't get on the scoresheet but still boosted his chances of a possible move with an all-action display.

He beat two players on the edge of the area after 14 minutes before firing a shot straight at keeper Mark Zegers.

And the Frenchman would almost certainly have scored just before the break had Don Hutchison, playing on the right side of midfield, not held on to the ball too long.

Reid said of the Rennes striker: "I thought he held the ball up well and he quite impressed me."

New defensive signing Stanislav Varga looked quite impressive at the back and could prove a bargain signing.

Reid may give Kevin Phillips the chance to prove his fitness for the Premiership opener against Arsenal by calling him over for the final game of Sunderland's three-match Dutch tour against Heerenveen on Saturday.

Phillips, yet to make a competitive appearance in pre-season, stayed behind on Wearside for further treatment to his injured knee.

Sunderland again showed how much they missed their no.1 marksman and failed to capitalise on a spirited performance last night.

But the England marksman could travel to Holland later this week and Reid refuses to rule him out of the Gunners clash.

Sunderland have failed to win a warmup game without Phillips and Reid must be praying that his 30-goal striker and Niall Quinn will both be fit to kick off the season.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Gray, Holloway, Varga, P.Butler, Hutchison, Roy (T.Butler 78), Kilbane, Dichio (Kyle 73), Bardon.

lSunderland's Premiership trips to Manchester City on Wednesday August 23, and Ipswich Town on Saturday, August 26, have both been sold out