Source: Telegraph
Sunderland miss out on Portsmouth's Peter Crouch
Bruce met the 28-year-old Portsmouth frontman on Wearside last Thursday and was initially hopeful of concluding a deal sometime this week.
However, despite agreeing personal terms, Crouch has since indicated he would prefer to remain in the south with a move to London now most likely.
"Naturally this is hugely disappointing for us as Peter was one of our primary targets," Bruce said.
"I know he was impressed with the set up here when he came for talks, but it's simply a matter of geographical location and that's not something we can affect.
"What's pleasing however is that it shows the intent of the club going forward that we are trying to bring in players of his calibre, and we will continue to pursue other targets.
"We have a number of irons in the fire at present and we will be looking to make several additions to our squad in the coming weeks."
Bruce appears to have fallen foul of the same problem that beset Roy Keane in his time at the club when trying to convince players to relocate to the north east based on football alone, something a number of players Keane said were unwilling or unable to do.
"Location is the big thing, probably, in it, but we will do our utmost and we have. That's all we can do," said Bruce.
"We have had him up, we have done our utmost, the club has backed me. We have done everything we possibly can and if we can pull it off, it will be a terrific signing for the club."
Bruce remains on the trail of Bordeaux's Moroccan international striker Marouane Chamakh although Sunderland are one of several clubs, along with Arsenal, to be linked with the player, who has admitted even he is not convinced about Arsene Wenger's reported interest.
Darren Bent has also been in the club's sights for some time now, although Spurs' valuation of a man for whom they paid £16.5 million could be a problem.
Bruce has already signed Manchester United forward Fraizer Campbell and Paraguay international defender Paulo da Silva this summer, but Crouch is the first of the six targets he identified to chairman Niall Quinn following his own arrival at the Stadium of Light to have slipped through the net.
