SUNDERLAND are poised to land Leicester City's Matt Piper after Southampton conceded defeat in the race for the £3m-rated winger.

Saints chairman Rupert Lowe is convinced Piper is destined for the Stadium of Light, and yesterday revealed that Rangers' former Manchester United star Andrei Kanchelskis has emerged as an alternative target for manager Gordon Strachan.

Sunderland boss Peter Reid, who signed full-back Stephen Wright from Liverpool last week in a deal potentially worth £3m, had hoped to make it a double swoop with the capture of Piper.

But Saints matched the Black Cats' £3m offer for the 20-year-old, who looked to set move to the south coast when he entered talks at St. Mary's Stadium on the eve of Saturday's visit by Middlesbrough.

Lowe, however, yesterday admitted: "We met the player on Friday and were hopeful he would join us.

"But it appears he has now decided to go to Sunderland after turning them down at the start of last week.

"He's a nice lad, but very quiet and we wish him well.

"We will leave the door open because you never know in football, but it looks as though that is the end of the matter.''

Saints have moved quickly by offering 33-year-old Kanchelskis the chance to train with them with a view to a permanent deal.

Meanwhile, Sunderland's French flop Lilian Laslandes is set to join Bastia on a one-year loan.

The striker, who said he would rather play for a pub team in France than stay on Wearside beyond the end of this month, flew to Corsica for talks with the French top-flight side.

Laslandes' £3.6m move to Sunderland from Bordeaux last summer proved an unmitigated disaster.

He scored only one goal in 13 appearances and made a mere five starts before Reid off-loaded him to German side Cologne in a loan deal midway through last season.

The 30-year-old has been hawked around Europe by his agent Philippe Flavier in a desperate search for a club prepared to offer him a fresh start.

Paris St. Germain are understood to have turned down the chance to take Laslandes off Sunderland's hands in a cut-price deal.

Reid's army of critics on Wearside have pointed to Laslandes as evidence of the manager's failings in the transfer market.

Laslandes was bought as an intended long-term replacement for veteran Niall Quinn, who was this summer elevated to the role of player-coach.

But Reid, having seen Leeds striker Robbie Keane and Chelsea frontman Eidur Gudjohnsen spurn proposed moves to the Stadium of Light, is still seeking a new foil for Kevin Phillips.

Rangers duo Tore Andre Flo and Michael Mols have both had talks with Reid - the latter spent last week training on Wearside - but remain undecided about their futures.

Laslandes was yesterday hoping to tie up loose ends with Bastia after arriving in Corsica with his lawyer on Sunday.

He watched Bastia beat Monaco 1-0, and said: "We will settle some details because, at the moment, nothing has been signed.

"We will also talk about my fitness because I have arrived late at the start of the season.

"I will need 15 days to be ready to play, but I am not fearful of any physical battles.

"I already like it here - what an atmosphere there was.''

Laslandes last month said: "I want to fight and play. I just had a dark time last season.

"But if, on August 31, I am still at Sunderland, I will probably change my mind and I could decide to sign on with a little amateur club in my area.''

Bastia, however, are now ready to throw him a lifeline, and prospective strike partner Florian Maurice insisted: ''He fights for his teammates and helps a lot of people to score. He is a great player.

"Each guy who has played alongside Laslandes has always had a remarkable season.''

After Sunderland's struggle for Premiership survival last term, Phillips, you suspect, would beg to differ.

* Sunderland winger Thomas Butler was yesterday handed a dream call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad for tomorrow night's friendly with Finland in Helsinki.

Republic boss Mick McCarthy has seen his squad reduced to only 16 players after a number of withdrawals through injury - among them Newcastle centre-back Andy O'Brien, who has shin problems.

Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer will skipper the side as he wins his 50th cap, just weeks after threatening to walk out on the World Cup.

''He thought about it out loud, but it can't have been too serious because he never mentioned it to me,'' said McCarthy.

''He is 31, was out of the team and wondered what was ahead. I am delighted he is still around and playing.

"He is a very youthful 31.''

Butler was drafted in from the Under-21 squad, but McCarthy's attempts to call up Wearside teammate Phil Babb bit the dust when the defender was ruled out with a back injury.

McCarthy saw Butler produce an impressive display in Sunderland's goalless season opener at Blackburn on Saturday.

And McAteer said: "Mick was there to watch Thomas and the lad had a good game.

"He is quality and the only thing missing from his game is experience.''

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