McLaren holidays after busy week

A relaxed Steve McClaren jetted off on holiday today leaving Middlesbrough buzzing after his dramatic double transfer swoop.

As McClaren headed off for his break, chief executive Keith Lamb and his team were also preparing to clock up the air miles as they readied themselves to push home the club’s interest in World Cup winner Juninho.

Boro were keeping their own counsel on Lamb’s plans today, although the club will waste no time in talking to the Brazilian after agreeing a fee with his club Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Juninho’s advisors have already indicated the player is more than willing to listen to what the Teessiders have to say, and McClaren, whose mobile phone will never be very far from his side while he is out of the country, will be hoping for more good news in the next few days.

Yesterday’s flurry of activity - news of Juninho’s possible return to the Riverside Stadium emerged at the same time as Massimo Maccarone’s transfer was confirmed and moments before Robbie Mustoe’s departure was announced - sparked a rush of season ticket renewals and fresh inquiries.

It also confirmed the club’s ambitions for the new season, and fulfilled McClaren’s pledge to make significant progress on his summer spending programme before he headed for the sun.

Matters are now in the hands of Lamb, who has proved a shrewd negotiator in recent months with the club leaving no margin for error following the high-profile problems with German international Christian Ziege.

Boro took their time in completing 22-year-old Empoli hitman Maccarone’s club record £8.15million move, refusing to confirm anything until the ink was dry on the contract after a series of failures in recent times.

Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan slipped through McClaren’s fingers at the 11th-hour and opted for Manchester United, while Dwight Yorke and Muzzy Izzet eventually turned down the chance of a move to Teesside after their clubs accepted bids.

But it was Boro who pulled the plug on their move for South African international striker Benni McCarthy last month, blaming his agent for scuppering the deal with his ‘‘outrageous’’ demands.

It has been an eventful week at the Riverside, and there is little sign of things settling down again for long as McClaren and his team continue their preparations for the new season.

Maccarone’s arrival will strengthen their attacking resources and Franck Queudrue completed his move from Lens at the end of last season to ensure the continued solidity at the back.

But now it is in midfield where McClaren needs to set the ball rolling following confirmation Mustoe and skipper Paul Ince have left the club.

Juninho is neither an out-and-out midfielder nor a striker, and depending on the shape the manager wants to adopt for the new season, he will certainly look to bring in one dedicated central midfielder and possibly two.