SUNDERLAND'S hopes of snapping up Liverpool star Patrik Berger hinge on whether the player signs a new one-year contract at Anfield.

The Czech Republic midfielder, who is available on a Bosman free transfer next summer, is understood to be wanted by Black Cats boss Peter Reid for a cut-price £2m.

But Berger has been offered a new deal at Liverpool, who hope the player will stay on so he will command a higher fee when the transfer window opens again in January.

The 28-year-old has been unable to claim a regular place in manager Gerard Houllier's first team, and he is willing to listen to offers from other clubs.

The former Borussia Dortmund man may not be the striker Sunderland's fans are hoping for, but he does pitch in with his fair share of goals and he can play in various positions. He has scored 28 times in 146 appearances for the Merseyside club.

Berger knows that it will be difficult to reclaim a starting place in the Reds' side, as Houllier continues to look for new wingmen and he also has the option of playing new boy El Hadji Diouf or Emile Heskey out wide.

The Liverpool chief is hoping to sign either PSV's Dennis Rommedahl and Ajax wonder-kid Raphael van der Vaart before the introduction of the transfer window this Saturday.

Reid, who has recently paid £6.5m for Berger's former teammate Stephen Wright and Leicester's Matthew Piper, is also stepping up his efforts to bring in a much-needed forward.

After the weekend's 1-0 defeat at home to Everton, pressure mounted on under-fire Reid to snap up a new front-man before deadline day on Saturday.

He has asked to be kept informed over the availability of out-of-favour Leeds striker Robbie Keane and he is thought to have kept his options open by closing in on Rangers' Michael Mols and Nantes' Pierre Yves Andre.

Ideally Reid would love to finalise a deal for Keane, who turned down a £9m switch to Wearside earlier this summer.

But the Sunderland chief knows that time is running out if he is going to convince the Republic of Ireland hot-shot to leave Elland Road - despite Keane's admission that he is becoming increasingly frustrated at spending so much time on the bench.

That is why Reid could still fall back on Dutchman Mols, who would jump at the chance to ply his trade in the Premiership after overcoming a serious knee injury.

Yves Andre, meanwhile, is thought to have already agreed a season-long loan deal with the option of a £4m move at the end of the season.

But Reid looks to be failing in his bid to bring in Norwegian Tore Andre Flo.

Rangers are reluctant to sell the player for less than £8m and Reid is not keen on paying that figure for a man who turns 30 within the year.

Meanwhile, the list of names being linked with a move to the Stadium of Light is continuing to grow.

Over the weekend Barcelona's 21-year-old striker Roberto Trashorras was joined on Reid's wish list by Fenerbache midfielder Milan Rapajc and Bayern Munich's unsettled striker Alexander Zickler.

* Sunderland striker Michael Proctor scored the winner last night for Bradford - where he is on loan for a month - in their 2-1 win at Ipswich.

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