MIDDLESBROUGH are set for further talks over the future of on-loan Cameroon star Geremi.

Riverside manager Steve McClaren is still hoping to tie up a permanent deal for the Real Madrid man.

But the proposed move appears to have reached an impasse, with the European champions officially insisting they want in excess of £9m for the 24-year-old midifelder.

Boro's opening bid of £3m was rejected out of hand, but it is understood an offer of between £5-6m could close a deal.

Both Boro and representatives acting for Geremi have dismissed Real sporting director Jorge Valdano's recent claim that the Teessiders had been rebuffed with an £8m offer.

Liverpool are keeping a watchful eye on developments and the outcome of their Champions League decider with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday could yet have a crucial bearing on Boro's hopes of landing Geremi, who has made a major impact while on temporary terms this season.

Anfield boss Gerard Houllier has spoken to Geremi's advisors and his bargaining position will be significantly enhanced if the Reds pip Chelsea to a Champions League place.

Chelsea, of course, almost signed Geremi last summer when they dramatically abandoned a £7.7m deal because of their crippling debts.

The possibility remains that Geremi may have played his last game for Boro.

He has missed the last four matches with an ankle injury and is not expected to face Bolton on Sunday in the final game of the season at the Reebook Stadium.

West Ham caretaker boss Trevor Brooking believes Boro will be going all out to win, because victory could be worth £500,000 in Premiership prize money.

If Boro avoid defeat and the Hammers win at Birmingham, it will mean Brooking's men will have pulled off a miracle escape from relegation, with Bolton going down instead.

Boro need to win to have any hope of reaching eighth place, which would be their highest-ever Premiership finish, and 52 points, thereby equalling their best total in the competition.

Brooking said: ''They had a 5-1 win against Spurs on Saturday and there is still a lot of money to play for in Premiership positions. If they get something at Bolton, it can be worth £500,000.

"Middlesbrough are quite capable of getting at least a draw and what we don't want is to come off the pitch at Birmingham knowing that if we had won we could have stayed up.''

Boro have received around 300 extra tickets for the Bolton game. They are priced £25, with no concessions, and go on general sale from 11am today.

l Boro skipper Gareth Southgate could be in line for a return duel with teammate Szilard Nemeth when England face Slovakia at the Riverside in next month's Euro 2004 qualifier.

Southgate, who was in opposition to Nemeth for England's 2-1 win in Bratislava in October, is on standby after Arsenal's Sol Campbell was ruled out for six weeks with an Achilles injury.

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