MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren is weighing up a double swoop on South Africa's World Cup squad.

England coach McClaren, attempting to secure a £6m deal for striker Benni McCarthy, has also checked on winger Delron Buckley.

Rob Moore, agent to both players, confirmed: "Everton, West Ham and Middlesbrough have all watched Delron at some point and they, along with many others, are likely to be watching over the World Cup finals.

"There's a great deal of interest in him from many clubs and he is very excited.''

Bayer Leverkusen, beaten by Real Madrid in the European Cup final a week ago, are also said to be tracking 23-year-old Buckley, who has spent six years in Germany with Bochum.

Boro have been in talks with Spanish side Celta Vigo over McCarthy, who has been on loan with Porto.

The Portuguese giants were keen to make the deal permanent but can't afford the asking price, and fierce rivals Sporting Lisbon are understood to be interested.

Boro could also face competition from Glasgow Rangers, but doubts remain about McCarthy's eligibility for a work permit.

An application by Boro was rejected last September after they had lined up a loan deal.

Meanwhile, Boro look to be in a straight £6m fight with Celtic for Leicester midfielder Muzzy Izzet after West Ham boss Glenn Roeder ruled out a move because of a lack of funds.

George Boateng, who has submitted a transfer request to Aston Villa, is touting himself as an alternative to Izzet if Boro miss out.

* Hartlepool United defender Chris Westwood has pledged his future to the club by signing a new two-year deal, writes PAUL FRASER. The 25-year-old centre-back, who has been considering the improved terms since the play-off defeat to Cheltenham, finally put pen-to-paper earlier this week.

The former Wolves man, a regular in Chris Turner's line-up, becomes the third player to commit himself to the club over the past couple of weeks after Paul Arnison and Gordon Watson signed one-year contracts.

And Westwood is now hoping to help Turner's men achieve promotion next season.

"We should be playing in the Second Division in August anyway," said Westwood. "But we're not and we are hoping to claim a top three spot next time out.

"The gaffer has built a good squad and hopefully we can go up."

Westwood moved to Victoria Park in 1999 and has played in all three of Pool's unsuccessful play-off campaigns.

Turner, meanwhile, has rubbished reports linking him with a switch to Sunderland.

Pool have put last season's first-team shirts up for auction on internet site QXL.com and are selling off replica shirts for £13 in the club shop.

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