Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has confirmed the club has dropped its interest in England striker Peter Crouch. The Black Cats boss met the 28-year-old Portsmouth frontman on Wearside last Thursday and had hoped to get the response for which he was looking within 24 hours.

However, despite agreeing personal terms, Crouch has since indicated he would prefer to remain in the south of the country with Fulham and Tottenham having also acknowledged their interest.

Bruce told the club’s official website: “Naturally this is hugely disappointing for us as Peter was one of our primary targets. 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 hinted in the hours immediately after speaking to Crouch that suggestions he was reluctant to move to the north-east could prove accurate.

He said after the Black Cats’ 4-0 friendly win at Darlington on Thursday evening: “Location is the big thing, probably, in it, but we will do our utmost - and we have. That’s all we can do.

“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.”

Today’s development has simply confirmed Bruce’s worst fears, and he will now turn his attention to alternative targets.

He 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 the Gunners’ reported interest.

Darren Bent has also been in the club’s sights for some time now, although Spurs’ valuation could be a problem.

Bruce has already landed Hull frontman 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.