Sussex still hope to sign a top-quality spinner as their second overseas player next season despite losing out to Lancashire in the race to sign Indian Harbhajan Singh.

The county may now turn their attentions to another Indian, Anil Kumble, or even Australian Stuart McGill after Singh opted to sign a one-year deal at Old Trafford.

Murray Goodwin is already contracted to return to Hove for a third season but Sussex coach Peter Moores says there is room for another 'senior player' in the squad.

Their priority is to find another spinner to support South African Mark Davis following the death of Umer Rashid in April but Moores did not rule out the possibility of recruiting an overseas batsman or seamer instead.

He said: "Not getting Harbhajan is a bit of a blow, although to be honest we had an inkling he might go to Lancashire when we spoke to him.

"I'm getting together with (captain) Chris Adams to draw up a hit-list. We've identified spin as an area we would like to strengthen and now it's a question of whether the right man becomes available."

Kumble is believed to be looking for a third county after successful spells with Northamptonshire and Leicestershire while McGill has just joined Nottinghamshire until the end of the season and is said to be keen for a longer stint in the county game.