Boro set to unveil latest signing

Middlesbrough have called a press conference at 1pm today to reveal the latest part of Steve McClaren’s jigsaw.

Boro were playing their cards close to their chest as they prepared to unveil McClaren’s first summer signing, but the two leading candidates are Australian striker Mark Viduka and Dutch full-back Michael Reiziger.

Viduka underwent a medical on Teesside last Friday and has spent the days since attempting to sort out a lingering contractual dispute with current club Leeds before putting pen to paper.

The former Celtic forward actually trained with McClaren’s squad yesterday after he was given permission to do so by the Yorkshiremen, who in turn had Michael Ricketts among their ranks as he attempts to secure his move to Elland Road.

Reiziger, who headed for the north east after Holland’s elimination from Euro 2004, completed his medical yesterday and he and Boro have since been working to conclude his move from Barcelona, where his contract had expired.

McClaren’s interest in Portsmouth striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu is still alive, although news that Reiziger’s former Barca team-mate Patrick Kluivert is still looking for a move to the Barclays Premiership after apparently snubbing the Teessiders’ advances earlier this summer seems to have created few ripples at the Riverside Stadium.

Meanwhile, Boro are confident that an administrative problem over the conversion of Gaizka Mendieta’s year-long loan from Lazio into a four-year permanent deal will be ironed out soon.

“We have an agreement with Lazio that his loan will become a four-year permanent deal,” said club spokesman Dave Allan. “Gaizka has signed that contract and was back with us in training yesterday.”