STEVE BRUCE is close to admitting defeat in his pursuit of Germany international Kevin Kuranyi, but remains on the look out for a new striker after revealing an interest in Paraguayan Salvador Cabanas.

Kuranyi, out of contract in the summer, is thought to have held talks over a move to the Stadium of Light but interest in the Schalke striker has grown in recent days.

Now the 27-year-old, also interesting Chelsea, is keen to keep his options open knowing he will be in a stronger position at the end of the season to command an even greater weekly wage.

Bruce was looking to pay around £3.5m to Schalke to strike a deal during this month’s transfer window, but the Sunderland boss has been forced to look elsewhere.

“I think he’ll wait to be a Bosman,” said Bruce. “I genuinely believe that. We’re interested, but that’s all.

“There’s going to be 50 clubs I would have thought who will be interested too. If you were him, would you come out now when you’re a Bosman in four months?”

Bruce, who takes his squad to the Algarve this morning for warm weather training having made no new additions so far in January, has been linked with many, many players, but he insists the majority of names being touted around are wide of the mark.

“Some of it is ridiculous, I have to say,” said Bruce. “I have to try to dampen this down a little bit. I’m just laughing at half of it. It’s totally nonsensical.

“I must have been buying 25 in the January window already and we’re only a week in. We’ve got one or two irons in the fire, nothing is imminent at all. We’ll see.”

One player Bruce – also keen on Wigan’s left-back Maynor Figueroa – does have a long-standing interest in is South American striker Cabanas.

Cabanas is the leading scorer in the Mexican league and is keen to test himself in Europe, and teaming up with compatriot Paulo Da Silva is said to appeal.

But Bruce, suggesting reports he has also targeted Chris Kirkland and Ryan Babel are untrue, insists he is not close to sealing a switch for the 29-year-old.

“I’ve monitored Cabanas,”

said the Sunderland manager.

“You know I’ve had a little contact in South America.

Cabanas is a fantastic player, whether it’s possible, I’m not quite sure. He’s somebody who would be of interest but I’m sure if he became available, there’d be lots more interest too.”

Bruce’s search for a striker has led to Stoke City and Birmingham launching attempts to land Kenwyne Jones, but the Sunderland boss claims neither could afford the player.

Bruce would be willing to listen to offers for Jones, but is refusing to allow the player to leave the Black Cats on the cheap.

“We all know in football that everybody’s got their price, whether you’re Steven Gerrard or Cristiano Ronaldo,”

said Bruce. “The one thing I want to do is try to build a squad.

“If something out there blows our brains, but with no disrespect to Stoke or Birmingham, can they afford him? I very much doubt it. It’s not just the transfer fee but wages, all the rest of it. I just can’t see it.”

Sources close to Birmingham claim Sunderland want around £15m for Jones, with the player seeking £70,000-aweek to think about leaving the Stadium of Light.

And with the Blues hoping to strike a deal for around £11m, Bruce insists he is focused on trying to turn Jones into the £40m player Roy Keane once claimed he was worth.

“On his day you can look at Kenwyne and say he’s worth £40m, then on another day you’ll think, ‘Come on you’.

That’s Kenwyne,” said Bruce. “The thing for Kenwyne is for him to grasp the nettle.

“To be a Chelsea player, or a Man U player, Liverpool player, what makes them stand out is they can perform at a level week in, week out.

“It’s a level a lot of players find difficult to get to.

They’re the demands of a huge club and we’ve got to try to get Kenwyne like that, because when he is playing at his best, he is a fantastic footballer.”

■ Sunderland’s FA youth cup fourth round tie with Preston North End has been rescheduled for 7pm on January 20. Entry to the Stadium of Light will be through cash turnstiles 1-8, at £3 adults, £1 concessions.