Cats miss out on striker Connolly.

Byline: By Paul Gilder

Mick McCarthy's hopes of ending his search for a striker by luring David Connolly to the Stadium of Light last night looked doomed to failure as it emerged that the Republic of Ireland international is poised to sign for Leicester.

The Sunderland boss is determined to increase his team's firepower ahead of next month's Coca-Cola Championship opener at Coventry and, having been deterred by Wolves' valuation of Kenny Miller, had identified Connolly as a cut-price alternative.

Having fallen out of favour with the West Ham manager Alan Pardew, Connolly was made available for pounds 500,000 and the Black Cats were one of a number of clubs understood to have been offered his services.

But, although McCarthy was keen to renew acquaintances with a player he put great faith in during his six years of international management, the Foxes have stolen a march and agreed a fee with the Hammers for the 27-year-old.

"This move for a player like this shows that those who may have written us off in the transfer market should think again," said the Leicester boss Micky Adams, who last week saw a move for Jason McAteer collapse when the two parties were unable to agree terms. No such problems are expected with Connolly.

Although the City squad are currently on a pre-season tour of Estonia and Finland, Adams is hoping to complete a deal this week, with Connolly set to head to the East Midlands to undergo a medical and thrash out a contract.

And this latest development will come as a major blow to McCarthy, who despite being in America with the Black Cats until July 23, will continue to scour the transfer market.

Whether or not the Stadium of Light boss attempts to hijack Leicester's move by tabling a rival bid remains to be seen.

But what is certain is that a squad preparing for a renewed push for promotion is short of experienced strikers, with the untried trio of Stephen Elliott, Chris Brown and Neil Teggart currently the only back-up for Kevin Kyle and Marcus Stewart.

McCarthy has signed five players this summer, Elliott, Steve Caldwell, Liam Lawrence, Carl Robinson and Dean Whitehead, and all are set to get a first taste of action with their new club in America this week.

But the Black Cats boss is keen to add experience to his first-team squad, the average age of which is currently around 23. "We are looking a bit light," admitted McCarthy, whose team will open their pre-season campaign in Raleigh tomorrow evening when they take on a USL Carolina All-Star XI.

"I would still like to bring players in and, if I get the opportunity to do it, I will do. But it will all depend on whether I'm able to get the players I want."

The Black Cats are reported to be preparing a pounds 1.5m offer for Miller, much of it based on appearances and dependent on the Wearsiders winning promotion back to the Premiership.

But Wolves paid Rangers pounds 3m for the Scot and are determined to recoup much of that fee in cash.

Meanwhile, Darren Byfield, whose summer move to Sunderland controversially collapsed this summer, could be set to return to his previous club Walsall having spent the last two weeks training at the Bescot Stadium.

Bristol City have registered an interest in the Jamaican international but Walsall boss Paul Merson said last night: "I have spoken to Darren and he has told me that a contract with us is not out of the question.

"There are bound to be other offers because any club in our division which signs Darren Byfield will be able to say they have the best striker in the division. No question about it. Darren will guarantee you 20 goals."

* FORMER Sunderland defender Talal El Karkouri will return to English football next season after completing a pounds 1m deal to join Charlton Athletic from Paris Saint-Germain last night.