SUNDERLAND are drawing up a comprehensive shortlist of strikers they plan to pursue over the summer months.

And Slovakian front man Szilard Nemeth remains Peter Reid's top target, despite the intervention of neighbours Middlesbrough and top Italian outfits Inter Milan and Udinese, who have recently checked out the hard-hitting 23-year-old.

Reid, however, is first in the queue for Slovakia's Player of the Year, who has already spent two days on Wearside and negotiations with his club, Inter Bratislava, are well advanced on a reported £2m deal, though the price might well go up now that other clubs are showing interest.

Reid, however, has other irons in the fire, and has also been linked with relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers striker Peter Crouch.

Crouch, 20, is 6ft 2ins tall, and could be groomed as an eventual successor to veteran strike Niall Quinn.

Reid is reluctant to talk openly about possible transfer targets, but he has confirmed his interest in Nemeth and is not surprised that the exciting Slovakian has drawn attention from elsewhere.

Reid said: "It is nice when your judgement is confirmed by clubs of high standing.

"We had an interest in the player and we still have an interest in the player, as have with a number of others.

"I don't like it all over the papers, but sometimes people do good jobs and get these things."

He confirmed: "We are still actively trying to get players who will add to the strength of the squad.

"That's what we are trying to do now and it's an on-going job."

Reid has been alerted to the potential of Macclesfield-born Crouch, who moved across London from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £60,000 at the start of the season.

Crouch has scored ten League and Cup goals in 41 appearances in a struggling Rangers side and has been likened to Quinn, who is expected to have only one more competitive season after being plagued by a persistent back injury in recent months.

Quinn, however, has made excellent progress over the past four weeks since being rested after the drawn home game against Aston Villa and Reid is hoping that he will be fit to resume his partnership with 15-goal Kevin Phillips in next Monday night's big derby game against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Reid, meanwhile, is expected to sign a new four-year contract this week after completing six years in charge on Wearside.

The 44-year-old Merseysider, whose current contract expires this summer, has transformed Sunderland from a struggling First Division outfit into a club challenging for entry into Europe and chairman Bob Murray is keen to tie him down with a long-term agreement.

Dennis Bergkamp has been ruled out of Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Valencia tomorrow and the Dutchman is also doubtful for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham.

The 31-year-old striker will miss the visit of Valencia to Highbury because of an Achilles problem.

And his fear of flying will almost certainly mean he will have no part to play in the Gunners' quest to reach the last four as manager Arsene Wenger is unlikely to sanction the long drive to Spain for the return leg.

Without the former Inter Milan marksman, Wenger will have to decide whether to pair Kanu or the in-form Sylvain Wiltord with leading scorer Thierry Henry against the Spanish side.

Meanwhile, the niggling injury also raises doubts over Bergkamp's chances of being fit for the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Bergkamp, who missed the 2-0 Premiership win over Spurs at Highbury on Saturday, said: ''I'll be missing our game against Valencia due to an Achilles injury.

''To make matters worse, my chances of appearing in the big derby against Spurs are also slim. I tried to do some jogging and it was clear it was no use.

''I've missed a lot of games in Europe this season because of the travelling situation, injuries and some tactical decisions by the manager.''

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