Middlesbrough close in on £6m striker Boateng

Middlesbrough are closing in on the £6m signing of the Ghanaian prodigy Dereck Boateng, who plays in Greece for Panathinaikos.

Officials from the club flew to Greece yesterday. The Boro manager, Steve McClaren, left others to conduct negotiations in Athens while he was on international duty with England in Amsterdam. Greek sources revealed that a two-man party, including the first-team coach, Steve Round, flew in to see the striker play in a friendly with FC Copenhagen.

The 18-year-old would have no problem gaining a work permit as he has been a regular in the Ghana side for the past year. Panathinaikos wanted Boateng to stay for the rest of their Champions' League campaign, which still has at least four games to run, but they are also in need of the transfer fee.

Patrick Mboma flew in to sign for Sunderland last night. The Cameroon international, who was arguably their best player in the recent African Nations' Cup, scoring three goals, has agreed to join on loan for the rest of the season. If Mboma helps to keep Sunderland in the Premiership, there is a deal agreed to take him from Parma full-time.

Thierry Henry said that the contract extension agreed by the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, could prompt him to follow suit."I am so happy at Arsenal," Arsenal's 24-year-old France striker told a press conference before France's friendly against Romania last night. "I have a real love for that club and I am very happy with them.

"The fact Arsène decided to stay is very important for me because it allows us to follow a certain continuity with all the players he recruited. Knowing he is staying triggers the desire to stay too."

Claude Makelélé is the latest Real Madrid player to comment on his club's interest in Arsenal's Patrick Vieira. Makelélé, a France team-mate of Vieira's, has followed Zinedine Zidane in admitting that the midfielder is in the Spanish champions' plans.

"Pairing me with Patrick Vieira in midfield is still Real Madrid's main objective," Makelélé said. "It would be good for us and, of course, I would love to play with Patrick, who is a friend. I think Real Madrid are doing all they can to get him."

The Chelsea centre-back John Terry may miss the next six matches with a fractured toe. The 21-year-old sustained the injury in a tackle on Darius Vassell in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa. Scans revealed damage to his right foot that is likely to keep him out of the game him until mid-March.

The Peterborough striker Andy Clarke has tested positive for an undisclosed banned substance in a random drugs test. The 34-year-old former Wimbledon player failed the test following a league match against Cambridge on 29 December.

Leonardo Biagini has finalised his three-month loan move to Portsmouth from Real Mallorca. The 24-year-old is awaiting clearance from the Football League and Pompey are hopeful he will be available for Saturday's home game with Rotherham.