WITH long-term target Chris Baird having spurned Sunderland's advances to join Fulham, Roy Keane has admitted that it was proving difficult to attract some of his leading targets to Wearside.

Despite speaking to Sunderland officials earlier this week, Baird last night completed a £3.025m move to Fulham rather than signing on the dotted line at the Stadium of Light.

The Northern Irish centre-half has cited the presence of his former international manager, Lawrie Sanchez, as one of the major factors behind his decision to commit to Craven Cottage, but there is the suggestion that a reluctance to uproot his family to the North-East also contributed to yesterday's events.

Keane is gradually growing accustomed to disappointment, as mooted moves for both Alan Smith and Jermain Defoe were shelved once it became apparent that neither player was keen on a move to the Stadium of Light, while former target David Nugent claimed that Portsmouth's superior squad strength had persuaded him to make a £6m move to Fratton Park.

The Black Cats boss remains confident that he will have significantly strengthened his squad by the time Sunderland face Tottenham in the opening match of the Premiership season, but he has also admitted that geographical factors are working against him as he attempts to compete with rival clubs in the south.

"The modern player takes everything into account," said Keane, who will confirm the £5m capture of Michael Chopra later today, provided the former Newcastle striker successfully completes a medical. "Believe it or not, even the weather can play a massive part in a player's decision.

"I was a bit like that before I came up here. You do think the North-East is in the middle of nowhere. But it's part of my job to sell the club and the area.

"I'm really enjoying it here, and so are the staff members I've brought with me, so it's my job to get people up here for a look around. We've had players here and suggested places for them to live, and that's part of the challenge. For a lot of players, the temptation is to live in Manchester or London.

"Lots of players have that mindset, but it's not just Sunderland - it's Newcastle and Middlesbrough as well. I think Middlesbrough had a bad reputation for a few years, and it surprised people when the likes of Ravanelli and Juninho moved there.

"That shows it can be done though. You can't be defeated otherwise you're never going to get the top players."

Keane poured a significant amount of time and energy into his pursuit of Baird, only for the versatile 25-year old to sign a four-year deal at Fulham.

The Northern Irishman only arrived at Fulham's training ground yesterday morning but, by lunchtime, Sunderland were being informed that he would not be moving to Wearside .

"I'm delighted that Chris has chosen to join Fulham despite interest shown by other clubs," said Fulham boss Sanchez.

"I am well aware of Chris' attributes as a player from my time with Northern Ireland, and his qualities and versatility will be a major asset for the club next season."

To make matters worse for the Black Cats, Keane has also been told that his pursuit of Wigan full-back Leighton Baines is now at an end.

The Sunderland boss has tabled three separate bids for the highly-rated England Under-21 international, with the most recent, worth £4m, arriving at the JJB Stadium last weekend.

Wigan officials turned all three down, and Latics boss Chris Hutchings has now spoken to Keane personally to inform him that Baines will not be moving anywhere this summer.

"Our manager spoke with Roy Keane because he felt he had to make it clear he has no intentions of selling Leighton," said a Wigan spokesman.

"We have said all along that he is not for sale and we certainly don't intend letting him go. Sunderland and other clubs now hopefully realise what is happening."

Keane can at least console himself with the knowledge that Chopra should be confirmed as a Sunderland player later today.

The 23-year-old has agreed personal terms after Cardiff accepted a £5m bid for his services earlier this week, and is expected to sign at the Stadium of Light within the next 24 hours once the results of his medical are known.

Former Sunderland midfielder Matt Piper is currently undergoing a week-long trial at League Two side Mansfield. Piper's Black Cats contract was cancelled in January 2006 after the winger underwent ten knee operations in the space of three years.