Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland launch £4million bid for West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne
Sunderland are ready to launch an improved £4million offer to land West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne.[LNB]Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is desperate to add the French frontman to his squad before the January transfer window closes next week, looking to fill the void left by the £24million sale of Darren Bent to Aston Villa.[LNB] Piq him up: Sunderland have launched an improved £4m bid to sign Frederic Piquionne from West Ham[LNB]Piquionne, signed last summer at Upton Park from Lyon, has been one of West Ham's better performers this season and the relegation threatened Barclays Premier League side are reluctant to part with their top goalscorer, rejecting Sunderland's opening bid of £3.5m bid on Monday.[LNB]The 32-year-old misses West Ham's second leg Carling Cup semi-final tie at Birmingham tonight through suspension after he was sent off at the weekend for celebrating his eighth goal of the season.[LNB] Running out of time: Bruce is keen to bring in a new striker before the transfer deadline next week[LNB]Sunderland boss Bruce is also keen on Tottenham star Roman Pavlyuchenko and Stoke's Ricardo Fuller but has been unable to strike a deal for either player.[LNB]With on-loan Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck out injured, Bruce is left with Asamoah Gyan as his only option in attack but is running out of time to bolster his ranks.[LNB] Sunderland target Piquionne as Fuller prices himself out of a moveSunderland close on Pavlyuchenko after Redknapp hints at striker's exit Asamoah Gyan and Sunderland prepare for life without Darren BentAll the latest Sunderland news, features and opinionAll the latest West Ham news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:People: Steve Bruce, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Danny Welbeck Places: Birmingham, Lyon
