ROBBIE MUSTOE'S future was still uncertain last night as a mystery club registered their interest in the Middlesbrough midfielder.

Mustoe, Boro's longest-serving player after nearly 12 years on Teesside, has baulked at the offer of a new one-year deal and is attracting the attention of Derby County and Cardiff City.

But Northern Echo Sport has learned that another interested party are tempting Mustoe with an attractive proposition.

Out of contract at the end of next month, Mustoe is anxious to establish where he stands in the next 24 hours before going on a family holiday.

Echo Sport revealed almost a fortnight ago that 33-year-old Mustoe, who had hoped for a new two-year deal with Boro, was listening to offers.

Derby manager John Gregory, eager to add experience to his squad following relegation from the Premiership, confirmed his interest and Cardiff's former Boro boss Lennie Lawrence has asked Mustoe's advisers to keep him informed of developments.

The odds are on Mustoe leaving the Riverside, but he hasn't ruled out the option of signing for another year after being a key member of Steve McClaren's squad in the England coach's first season with Boro.

Meanwhile, Serie A new boys Empoli have confirmed that Boro are in the hunt for Italy Under-21 striker Massimo Maccarone.

Birmingham, newly promoted to the Premiership, were rebuffed by the player after Empoli had accepted a £7.6m bid.

But Boro and First Division champions Manchester City are also understood to be tracking the star of Italy's UEFA Under-21 Championship campaign.

Empoli sports director, Pino Vitale, said: "I can confirm that these three clubs, Manchester City, Birmingham and Middlesbrough, want him.''

Birmingham insisted that Maccarone, also linked with Claudio Ranieri's Chelsea, rejected a move to St Andrews because he "felt it was too early in his career to be leaving Italy''.

However, Vitale added: "I think moving to a foreign club is not a problem for Maccarone.

"I can say it is 99 per cent certain he will go to England. Obviously we are looking for the best deal for both parties and a move to England would make both him and us a lot of money.''

McClaren was also yesterday once again linked with Liverpool's former Boro star Nick Barmby.

* Boro have confirmed they will be playing three pre-season warm-up games before launching their Premiership campaign on the weekend of August 17-18.

They travel to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, July 30 (7.30), Hull City on Friday, August 2 and Bradford City on Monday, August 5 (both 7.45).

Read more about Middlesbrough here.