Press Watch: Middlesbrough 'keen to add Boateng and Izzet' to summer purchases

Not content with spending £16.5m already this summer, Middlesbrough are prepared to spend another £5m on Aston Villa's George Boateng and Muzzy Izzet of Leicester, according to the Sunday Express, although the Sunday Mirror reckons if manager Steve McClaren fails to clinch the signing of Boateng for £4.5m they will take Paris St Germain's Edouard Cissé on loan. The People reckons the Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is prepared to offer Leicester City's Dennis Wise an escape from Filbert Street following his altercation with team-mate Callum Davidson.

The Mirror believe cash-strapped Chelsea have cut their asking price for striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink by £8m to £12m in a bid to tempt potential buyers, amid rumours that Milan are preparing a £4m offer for goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini. The same paper says Chelsea full-back Albert Ferrer is on Celta Vigo's wanted list.

While the Mirror believes Birmingham City are poised to step up their efforts to sign Derby County striker Malcolm Christie, for whom the Pride Park club wants £6.5m, the People says the Blues have targeted Christie's team-mate, defender Chris Riggott. The News of the World, however, reckons the Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce wants to sign his former Manchester United colleague David May on a free transfer.

While Tottenham and Sunderland are alleged by the Mirror to be locked in a £6m battle for Rangers' striker Tore Andre Flo, the People says Manchester United have not ruled out another attempt to sign Paolo di Canio from West Ham United. The same paper suggests West Ham may be a interested in Leicester's centre-back Matt Elliott. The Express says West Ham will decide this week whether to sign the Algerian defender Marmar Mamouri, who has been on trail at Upton Park.

Southampton are keen on £3m-rated Arsenal defender Igor Stepanovs, according to the Mirror, which also believes Steve Stone could be a target for Blackburn Rovers after the arrival of Ulises de la Cruz at Villa Park.

While the Mirror believes Fulham are considering a £6m offer for the West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair, the People says Fulham are set to make a £5m offer for Ipswich Town striker Marcus Bent. The same paper says Liverpool will not give up on Blackburn's Damien Duff, with manager Gérard Houllier prepared to wait a year for the winger, provided he agrees to move in the summer of 2003.