SUNDERLAND were last night forced to strongly refute allegations that they have made an illegal approach for West Ham United's Demba Ba.

The Senegalese striker looks certain to depart Upton Park this summer and had been considered at the Stadium of Light, but it is understood he is not a player the Black Cats are looking to sign.

However, West Ham have reported Sunderland to the Premier League for making moves behind their back to acquire the striker.

West Ham claim that Sunderland have taken tentative interest too far, but there was an angry response to that last night.

"Sunderland AFC is fully aware of the Premier League regulations pertaining to player recruitment," stated a Black Cats spokesman. "If we are interested in any player currently under contract with another club we will speak directly to that club in line with the regulations."

Given the injury problems which Sunderland have encountered in the past nine months, Steve Bruce is keen to avoid making any other signings that would arrive carrying any threat of long-term injury.

While Ba has proven at West Ham that the worst of his injuries appear behind him, Bruce is reluctant to pursue a player whose move to Stoke broke down last summer because of a long-standing knee problem.

The manager is keen to avoid a repeat of the sort of selection issues he has encountered this season and an indication of his determination is that he is targeting a new goalkeeper.

With Craig Gordon entering the final 12 months of his contract after a campaign riddled with injuries, Bruce is ready to look elsewhere.

He is interested in signing Kieren Westwood - also wanted by Everton, Manchester City and Leicester City - who becomes a free agent at the end of next month.

Coventry's Westwood has missed the final few weeks of the campaign with a knee injury, but Bruce is hopeful the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper could compete with Simon Mignolet for a first team shirt next season.

The interest in Westwood casts doubt over the future of Gordon, who will be free to leave the Stadium of Light for nothing in 12 months time.

"The lesson I have learned is that I can't take the risk. I have got to find another one, another goalkeeper," said Bruce. "I need to try to bring in someone else.

"Craig has to get fit and he has got to give us the problem then, but it's difficult to know when he will be back.

"We can't go in to negotiations now with someone who has had a serious knee operation. That is the way football is and I think he understands that. He is not going to do another pre-season."

* Sunderland will travel across the Pennines to face Championship side Burnley at 3pm on Saturday, July 30 in a pre-season friendly.

The fixture is the second pre-season game to be announced by the Black Cats, who have also confirmed a trip to York City on July 13.