Middlesbrough will reject a €15-million bid from Everton for their Nigeria striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni after the Merseysiders made an inquiry about the 24-year-old. It is expected to be followed up by a formal offer today. With Gareth Southgate light on strikers after losing Mark Viduka to Newcastle, Yakubu will be allowed to leave the Riverside only in exchange for more than €18 million.
The striker's €11-million move from Portsmouth to Teesside in 2005 was one of the transfers queried by John Stevens during his recent inquiry, when the Quest team became concerned by a lack of co-operation from Pini Zahavi and Barry Silkman, the agents who brokered that deal.
Zahavi, moreover, negotiated himself a €4.5-million payment - owed in instalments over Yakubu's five-year contract - for facilitating the striker's transfer to the Riverside. Should the forward leave early, Boro's debt to the agent would be wiped out and this could make the option of selling a player who has scored 25 goals in 71 appearances attractive for them. Few defenders enjoy marking the muscular forward but he does blow hot and cold.
The subject of persistent speculation this summer linking him with moves to Portsmouth and Manchester City, invariably followed by "Yak's going nowhere" statements from Southgate, the Nigerian could help resolve Everton's problems up front.
Having sold James Beattie to Sheffield United for €6 million and without the luckless England under-21 forward James Vaughan (dislocated shoulder) at least till November, the manager, David Moyes, has Andy Johnson and Victor Anichebe to call on, but is concerned about where goals will come from.
Tim Cahill could have been used as an emergency forward but the Australian has also been sidelined for around six weeks with a recurrence of a foot injury.
As expected Sunderland boss Roy Keane is poised to spend again despite sending his summer spree soaring to 40 million when he completes the signing of Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
Sunderland have spent an initial 10.5 million for Gordon, who has signed a five-year deal, with the prospect the fee could rise to €13.5 million because of a number of clauses attached to the deal.
That would beat the previous British record for a keeper, eclipsing the £7.8 (€11.5 million) Manchester United paid Monaco for Fabien Barthez in 2000.
Yet Keane is determined to spend more money before the transfer window closes: "Like I've said many times before, if I think there is a player out there I think can help improve us I have to be interested. I think we need two more players, and we've identified two more we hope to sort out next week."
In Scotland international Gordon, Keane knows he has a top drawer player, adding: "I rate him very highly. I think he can only get better, and this is the right club for him because we've good goalkeeping staff here."
Yet the 24-year-old is in danger of missing Saturday's curtain-raiser against Tottenham at the Stadium of Light. "He has had a slight shoulder problem, so it's touch and go," said Keane.
Defender Greg Halford (hamstring) and midfielder Carlos Edwards (hip) are also doubtful for the clash with Martin Jol's side.
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