SUNDERLAND have joined rivals Middlesbrough in declaring an interest in Republic of Ireland World Cup hero Robbie Keane.

Leeds manager David O'Leary is facing the prospect of having to sacrifice hot property Keane to help ease crippling debts at Elland Road.

O'Leary is committed to keeping Mark Viduka, Robbie Fowler and Alan Smith, and with former Sunderland star Michael Bridges returning from long-term injury, Keane is the odd man out.

And Northern Echo Sport can reveal that both Sunderland boss Peter Reid and Boro counterpart Steve McClaren, England's assistant coach in the Far East, have made enquiries about Keane.

Leeds, with the millstone of a £60m loan to repay to international investment bank Lazards, are reluctant to take less than the £12m they paid Inter Milan for Keane two seasons ago.

Sunderland and Boro would prefer to do business at around £10m, but a bigger stumbling block could well be Keane's wage demands.

It is understood that Sunderland, in particular, believe the overall package for the 21-year-old striker is potentially prohibitive.

Stadium of Light boss Reid is under intense pressure from disaffected fans to make a major impact on the transfer market this summer after a bitterly disappointing season.

While Boro are said to have tied up an £8.3m deal for Italy Under-21 striker Massimo Maccarone of Empoli, Sunderland's only signing so far this close season has been the free-transfer arrival of 31-year-old former Liverpool defender Phil Babb from Sporting Lisbon.

Regardless of whether he pursues his interest in Keane, Reid has other options and was yesterday linked with Italian striker Cristiano Lucarelli, who is rated at £9m by Torino.

But any hope Reid may have had of luring Argentina's World Cup schemer Ariel Ortega could be dashed by Newcastle.

Sir Bobby Robson is understood to be lining up a £6m move and Ortega has spoken enthusiastically about the possibility of playing for the Magpies in the Champions' League.

He said: "It will be an honour to play for Newcastle and the Champions' League is a great incentive.''

Robson is also still keen on West Ham's £6m-rated England winger Trevor Sinclair