Chief executive Keith Lamb remains 'reasonably confident' that Middlesbrough can persuade Bolo Zenden to stay on Teesside, despite interest from European champions Liverpool.

As revealed in Northern Echo SPORT on Tuesday, Pierre Zenden, the player's father, who acts as his agent, confirmed the Reds have made an attempt to secure his signature.

The Dutchman is out of contract at the end of the month and is free to turn his back on the Riverside Stadium for nothing - something that would leave Boro short of numbers in midfield.

It is a prospect that could lead to Boro firming up their slim interest in Luis Figo. Real Madrid are believed to have offered the Portuguese superstar to manager Steve McClaren.

But it is Zenden's situation that remains a priority in Lamb's eyes and he is keen to ensure the 28-year-old agrees to extend his stay in the North-East and be an integral part of the club's second UEFA Cup push next season.

An initial contract offer was rejected by the energetic midfielder but Lamb insists talks remain ongoing over reaching a compromise.

"Bolo is vital to us. He was one of our leading players of the season. We want to keep him here," he said. "Bolo is out of contract and we have made an offer which we hope will be sufficient to attract him.

"We are reasonably confident that Middlesbrough will be attractive enough to him to stay here another couple of seasons.

"We want Bolo to be with us next year and beyond. I have made it clear for him and his father and they are considering the offer. It won't be through the want of trying if he didn't stay."

The situation draws parallels with the situation a year ago when Zenden very nearly decided against a move to Boro after his Chelsea contract expired.

There were clubs interested but none were in the position that Liverpool - armed with their fifth European Cup in their trophy room and a £30m transfer kitty - find themselves in.

What would sway Zenden's mind more would be if UEFA decide to hand Liverpool a fifth Champions League spot next season and that decision is not likely to be reached for a couple of weeks.

But, with the left-sided roamer on holiday in France for the next ten days, he could wait until after that before choosing where to play his football.

If it is decided Liverpool do not deserve to be handed automatic inclusion into the Champions League next season then they will have to play in the UEFA Cup - something Boro can offer.

Pierre Zenden confirmed: "Bolo likes Middlesbrough very much, the fans voted him player of the year and Steve McClaren is a nice trainer, but he wants to play as high as possible.

"Someone from Liverpool has talked to Middlesbrough. Liverpool did a wonderful job in the Champions League final and they have a Spanish manager who Bolo knows very well from his time in Spain."

Lamb, meanwhile, is continuing his pursuit of Austrian left-back Emanuel Pogatetz and Juventus' Stephan Appiah.

Pogatetz, 22, is on loan at Spartak Moscow and is available for £1.3m, while Juventus are keen on offloading Appiah permanently but Boro are thought to want him initially on a season long loan.

* Manchester City striker Jon Macken has joined Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee after being told by Stuart Pearce he had no future at Eastlands.

The 27-year-old, who signed for City for £5m from Preston in 2002, failed to establish himself as a regular first-team player and has decided to move on.

Championship club Palace, relegated from the top flight last season, moved quickly to recruit Macken. ''I was very disappointed to be told by Stuart Pearce that I would not figure highly in his plans for next season,'' Macken said.

''I felt as though things were just starting to come together for me at City."

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