SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid has decided not to pursue his interest in West Ham want-away winger Trevor Sinclair.

Reid made an inquiry about the former England Under-21 international and might have made a firm £5m bid for the much-admired player if he had received any encouragement.

But West Ham, who recently appointed Glenn Roeder as manager in succession to Harry Redknapp, have made it clear this week that they are not interested in selling Sinclair, despite the player's recent admission that he is not happy at Upton Park.

Reid has accepted that Sinclair is not available and will now switch his attention elsewhere in a bid to strengthen his attack.

He said: "I rate Sinclair and he would have been one we would have been interested in.

"But West Ham have made it clear that there's no way that they intend to let him leave the club and as far as I am concerned that's the end of the matter."

French international Lilian Laslandes, who has been on Wearside this week putting the final touches to his £3m transfer from Bordeaux, is expected to put pen to paper at the Stadium of Light early next week.

The 29-year-old striker is expected to be the first of three or four new arrivals at Sunderland this summer as Reid continues his extensive search for new talent to strengthen his squad for next season's attempt to win entry into Europe at the third attempt.