Boro still chasing Alves

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has not yet given up hope in signing Afonso Alves from Dutch side Heerenveen. The Brazilian striker is in a tug-of-war dispute with AZ Alkmaar, Boro and Heerenveen over his next move.

Middlesbrough have made a bid of around 10 million pounds for Alves and he is keen on the switch, but AZ's counter-claim could scupper the deal.

The Dutch football federation have arranged a meeting between AZ and Heerenveen on Monday to settle their dispute and Southgate is hopeful of a positive resolution.

"We are doing our best to make the breakthrough but nothing is ever simple. We want to bring someone in, but I can't say that it will definitely happen. We just have to keep working away and see what happens," Southgate told the Evening Gazette.