Sunderland have dropped their pursuit of Liverpool striker David Ngog.

The People says Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is finding it hard to talk Ngog into ­joining him. The fee of £5m and his £50,000-a-week wages are too much.

And Frenchman Ngog is reluctant to move to Wearside as part of Bruce's ­revolution despite ­attempts to lower the fee or even Liverpool paying him to go.

Stoke City are also interested in the Reds forward.

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