Middlesbrough are poised to make a fourth attempt to persuade Everton that they should part with Duncan Ferguson.

The Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson, having collected only one point from their opening two Premiership fixtures, is concerned about the strength of a squad he has assembled at vast expense.

Everton have privately let it be known that they value the Scotland international striker at a preemptive £10 million, but Robson is unlikely to be deterred.

Aston Villa are another club who admire Ferguson's combative qualities and, having collected £15.6 million from the sales of Dwight Yorke and David Unsworth last week, they too may be interested in the enigmatic striker.