Steve McClaren yesterday pulled out of a deal to make Lazio's Christian Manfredini a last-minute signing.

The Middlesbrough boss is desperate to add another midfielder to the squad and was hoping Manfredini would be the beat-the deadline capture he is pursuing.

McClaren was alerted to the 28-year-old's availability when he was in Rome to set up the swoop for Lazio's Gaizka Mendieta two weeks ago.

Initial talks were held but Boro are refusing to meet the £3m-plus fee Lazio are demanding and, with other Italian clubs interested, have switched their attention elsewhere.

McClaren, though, also looks like being frustrated in a bid to take Boudewijn Zenden from Chelsea.

The Dutch winger, surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, is in talks with PSG and has made no move to start discussions with Boro.

But McClaren is still hoping to add to his squad before the deadline and confirmed yesterday: "We still need one more player and I'm hopeful about it.

"There are five or six names and it is fair to say they are loan possibilities. The frustrating thing is that we've had the whole summer but, with days to go, we're still looking for a player.

"We've brought Mendieta in to balance the loss of Geremi, but we still have the same number of personnel we had last season in midfield, and we were short there then."

In fact, with the departure of Luke Wilkshire to Bristol City, Boro have fewer first-team squad midfielders than at the end of last season.

McClaren has since signed Doriva on a permanent contract, plus Mendieta and Danny Mills on initial 12-month loans, but yet to pay a fee for any player.

He spent £35m in his first two seasons but the only concrete offer made by the club this summer was £5m for Fulham's Sean Davis, and that has been withdrawn.

Apart from the injury problems currently affecting Davis, Boro were not happy with other aspects of the bid.

Davis chose to speak to rivals Everton first, took a medical and was ready to sign without speaking to Boro.

McClaren has been disappointed in his approach for several targets - including Brett Emerton, Trevor Sinclair and David Dunn - but no actual bid was made for any of these players.

But new signings Mendieta and Mills will make their first appearance at the Riverside tomorrow against Leeds United.

McClaren will also have the luxury of choosing from four strikers with Szilard Nemeth, Joseph-Desire Job, Malcolm Christie and Michael Ricketts all declared fit.

George Boateng and Jonathan Greening are also likely to be available though there are doubts over Colin Cooper (groin) and Chris Riggott (back).

"People are coming back and we're a bit stronger and happier than last week," added McClaren.

* Scottish giants Celtic attempted to snatch former Boro star Emerson from under the noses of Wolves, but then did a U-turn and pulled out of the race to sign the Brazilian.

Wolves claimed yesterday that they were close to tying up a deal for the Atletico Madrid midfielder, who passed a medical and agreed personal terms in Wolverhampton earlier this week.