Reid eyes Europe

Reid has signed two strikers over the summer

BBC Sport Online says the pressure is on Sunderland to improve their Premiership position.

After a busy summer, signing five players, Peter Reid is hoping to improve upon last season's seventh placed finish and push for a Uefa Cup place.

Reid has strengthened his defence with the acquisition of Baki Mercimek and Bernt Haas.

Dutch central defender Mercimek was signed from HFC Haarlem on a free transfer and has been compared to compatriot Jaap Stam.

He will compete with Emerson Thome, Jody Craddock, Stanislav Varga and Darren Williams for the two centre-half places in Reid's favoured 4-4-2 formation.

  Summer transfers

IN

Lilian Laslandes (Bordeaux)

Baki Mercimek (HFC Haarlem)

Nicolas Medina (Argentinos Jumiors)

Bernt Haas Grasshopper Zurich)

David Bellion (AS Cannes)

OUT

Carsten Fredgaard (FC Copenhagen)

Haas arrived from FC Grashopper Zurich in Switzerland for a fee of £750,000.

The Swiss international right-back is the long-term replacement for Chris Makin, who left for Ipswich prior to last season's transfer deadline in March, and adds to Reid's defensive options.

Reid signed Patrice Carteron on loan from St Etienne following Makin's departure but opted against a permanent deal at the end of last season, signing Haas instead.

The Black Cats manager has also boosted his midfield, signing Nicolas Medina for £3.5m from Argentinos Juniors.

His arrival adds further quality to a midfield that already boasts Don Hutchison, Julio Arca and Gavin McCann.

The 23-year-old McCann made his England debut as a substitute against Spain last season and could emerge as Sunderland's key player over the forthcoming months.

But it is in attack that Reid has focused most of his close season transfer activity.

The strike partnership of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips has been prolific for Sunderland but Quinn was troubled by injury last season and the 34-year-old only scored seven goals from 33 Premiership appearances.

Laslandes will provide competition for Quinn

Reid still has Danny Dichio and Kevin Kyle in reserve but has increased his options with the signings of French strikers David Bellion and Lilian Laslandes.

Bellion arrived on a free transfer from AS Cannes and is unlikely to figure initially in the first team, but Laslandes, a £3.6m import from Bordeaux, should provide real competition for Quinn.

Reid feels that he now has the strongest squad since he became manager in March 1995 and the Black Cats will remain a formidable home team playing at the Stadium of Light.

But whether Reid's summer signings, that cost a shade under £8m, will make any tangible difference to Sunderland's hopes of penetrating the top six and qualifying for Europe remains to be seen.