MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren is keeping his fingers crossed that he does not miss out on another transfer target this week.

Chelsea winger Boudewijn Zenden remains top of McClaren's wanted list before the closure of the transfer window on Sunday, although he faces tough competition from Paris St Germain and Ajax.

Zenden is no longer part of Blues manager Claudio Ranieri's plans and he has been told he can leave if they receive a good enough offer.

Boro want to take the Dutch international on a season-long loan deal, something Chelsea are willing to accept provided another club does not offer them a substantial fee for a permanent deal.

Only Ajax can offer European football to Zenden and he would be tempted by a move back to his homeland to join the runners-up in the Holland league last season.

McClaren, who has already snapped up Spanish World Cup star Gaizka Mendieta and Leeds United's Danny Mills, has switched his attentions to the winger after pulling out of a deal for Fulham's Sean Davis.

The arrivals of Mendieta and Mills finally represented good news in the Riverside chief's summer player search after continually missing out on a list of midfielders.

Brett Emerton, Trevor Sinclair, David Dunn and Geremi all went elsewhere and McClaren, who has not yet confirmed his interest in Zenden, is hoping to add new blood by the weekend.

"Things will happen over the next 48 hours," said the former Manchester United No 2. "I am as confident about getting players in now as I was at the start of the season when things didn't quite come off.

"It was a frustrating summer and hopefully this will not be a frustrating week."

Mills has been cleared to make his belated first appearance for Boro against his old teammates from Leeds on Saturday.

The right-back will be keen to make an impact against the Elland Road club after manager Peter Reid criticised the player's performances and training.

Mills, who signed on a season-long loan deal on Friday, did not receive clearance from the Premier League in time to make his bow at Leicester on Tuesday.

But the 26-year-old is in line to form part of the Boro rearguard against Leeds.

His selection is likely to see young full-back Stuart Parnaby switch to left-back after Colin Cooper picked up a groin strain against the Foxes.

McClaren welcomed back injury-plagued striker Michael Ricketts at the Walkers Stadium.

The former Bolton man has struggled to find full fitness since his move to Teesside after suffering a series of niggles.

Ricketts is involved again after shaking off an Achilles injury and McClaren is expecting the front-man to finally come good seven months after arriving for £2.5m.

McClaren said: "In the first eight games when he came we were unbeaten and he contributed enormously to that run."

* Wolves hope to conclude the transfer of former Boro midfielder Emerson from Atletico Madrid before Saturday's game against Portsmouth.

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