Premiership: Boro remain silent on Yorke reports

Middlesbrough have refused to comment on reports linking them to the possible purchase of Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke.

Reports this morning suggest that Middlesbrough and Fulham are competing to sign Yorke, but the Teeside club said: "It isn’t the club’s policy to comment on transfer speculation."

Boro manager Steve McLaren, who was Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford until last year, has made no secret of his desire to strengthen the squad he inherited from Bryan Robson, but his efforts have been hampered by a lack of funds.

Middlesbrough were recently linked with a move for Yorke’s former strike partner, Andy Cole, before he joined Blackburn last week.

McLaren has already spent in excess of £11m since his arrival at Boro in June, signing Gareth Southgate, Jonathan Greening, Mark Wilson and Allan Johnston.

In the last few months, he has reduced the wage bill at the Riverside Stadium with the sale of Brian Deane, Steve Vickers and Curtis Fleming, but the club would still have to dig deep to support any move for Yorke.

The Tobago-born striker cost United £13m when they bought him from Aston Villa in August 1998, but they are expected to ask for just £8m if reports of his imminent sale are true.