MIDDLESBROUGH are closing in on a deal for Benito Carbone after yesterday completing the £2.5m signing of Franck Queudrue.

Boro hope Carbone will agree personal terms next week and that Bradford City accept a cut-price fee for the £3m-rated Italian, who has been a major success during his three-month loan at the Riverside.

Intriguingly, Boro yesterday announced they had arranged a pre-season friendly at Bradford's Valley Parade for August 5 (7.45pm), a game which could be part of a provisional agreement over Carbone.

The much-travelled playmaker - Boro are the 11th club he has played for - is seeking a four-year contract.

French B international Queudrue, meanwhile, has set his sights on helping Boro challenge the Premiership's big six.

The former Lens left-back is convinced that Steve McClaren's side, currently tenth, can muscle their way into a top-seven place next season and rub shoulders with the established order of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea and Leeds.

Queudrue has signed a five-year contract after a hugely-successful seven-month loan spell.

Runner-up to fellow defender Gareth Southgate in Boro's Player of the Year poll, Queudrue said: "I would like us to finish in the first five or seven - I think that would be a good season."

Queudrue, 23, is also hoping his move to Boro will be the springboard to full international honours with France. He said: "Everyone has the ambition of playing in their national team and I want to do that - it's not a secret.

"But the most important thing is playing well for Middlesbrough. That's the first and most important thing for me at the moment.''

McClaren said: "Franck is the right age and the right character. He has come in and immediately settled down, and from day one and has proved he has been a great acquisition for this club."

As well as the Bradford game, Boro have confirmed two other pre-season matches, at Sheffield Wednesday on July 30 (7.30), and Hull City on August 2 (7.45).

Boro Reserves travel to Durham City on July 23 (7.00), York City on July 31 (7.45) and Chesterfield on August 3 (3.00).

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