SUNDERLAND were last night warned that Bastia will not break the bank to sign Lilian Laslandes.

After Laslandes claimed that Sunderland were demanding £1m for his signature, the French club confessed they were working within a financial straitjacket.

The Black Cats were already reconciled to writing off the vast majority of their £3.6m investment in the striker.

Laslandes did not score a goal in 12 Premiership appearances before joining Bastia on loan this season.

But Bastia's sale of star midfielder Michael Essien, possibly to Liverpool, for around £4m will only partially offset their financial problems.

Sunderland's hopes of finding an alternative buyer for Laslandes are also doomed, as Bastia are the only club interested in the 31-year-old.

Sunderland have opened talks about the former France international's permanent move to Bastia - who have first option on the player until the end of this month.

But the Le Championnat outfit are adamant they are unwilling to pay over the odds for Laslandes.

Bastia coach Gerard Gili said: "We want a bigger group of players, but the problem is our resources are limited.

"I won't get all the money we receive for Michael Essien because we need money to ensure the financial stability of the club.

"There's a lot of building work to be done but we won't buy in haste. We won't rush into anything and then regret what we've done."

Hull City have ruled out a move for Sunderland striker Michael Reddy.

Tigers' manager Peter Taylor said: "We did show some interest in him earlier.

"But that's wide of the mark now. We haven't spoken to Sunderland or the player."

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