Boro target Barcelona's £12m Dani

The Middlesbrough manager, Bryan Robson, was in Spain yesterday trying to sign the Barcelona striker Dani, writes Alan Nixon. Robson and Boro's chief executive, Keith Lamb, are believed to be negotiating to bring 25-year-old to the Riverside in a £12m deal.

The Middlesbrough manager, Bryan Robson, was in Spain yesterday trying to sign the Barcelona striker Dani, writes Alan Nixon. Robson and Boro's chief executive, Keith Lamb, are believed to be negotiating to bring 25-year-old to the Riverside in a £12m deal.

Robson is reportedly furious about Liverpool's attempts to sign Christian Ziege for £5.5m by activating a get-out clause in the German's contract. Barcelona, along with Valencia, Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruña, are prepared to match or improve on Liverpool's offer.

Ziege pulled out of talks with Robson on Wednesday, claiming his wife was ill, and returned to Germany. Robson confirmed the interest in Dani yesterday, as well as Lazio's Croatian striker Alen Boksic, who could cost £2.5m.

Joseph Desire Job is on his way to Boro in a £3m deal after a stand-off by the Cameroonian striker. Job flew back to France in frustration after a difference in valuation between Boro and his club Lens threatened to hold up the move. However Job will fly back into Middlesbrough today to complete the transfer and he should go straight into Robson's squad after the fee was thrashed out.

Walter Smith has put Blackburn's Welsh international Nathan Blake on his wish-list. The Everton manager is sizing up a £2m move for the powerful target man.

Wolves are moving for the Sheffield Wednesday striker Andy Booth. Colin Lee hopes to sign Booth for £1.2m to replace Ade Akinbiyi and met him yesterday. Lee is also moving for the Yugoslav striker Milan Bokanovic at Le Havre.

The Manchester City striker Shaun Goater's hopes of being fit for the start of the season have increased with the news that his knee operation has been a success. The Bermudian, City's leading scorer last season, damaged his cartilage in the recent 4-0 tour win over Linfield.

The Bolton Wanderers pair of Dean Holdsworth and Kevin Nolan will miss the start of the season after picking up injuries during Tuesday's game against Indiana Blast on Wanderers' American tour. Holdsworth injured shoulder ligaments while Nolan broke a wrist.