MIDDLESBROUGH are hoping to include Ray Parlour as part of a deal designed to lure Steed Malbranque to Teesside instead of Tyneside.

Both Newcastle United and Boro have made inquiries about the creative Frenchman and are understood to have been encouraged by Fulham's response.

Malbranque has been rated at around the £4m mark by Chris Coleman, the Cottagers' boss, and Newcastle have been exploring ways of coming up with the funds.

Stephen Carr has been mentioned as a possible make-weight in the transfer, as the Magpies know they need to sell this summer if they are to attract the six targets Glenn Roeder is looking to sign.

But Roeder's hopes of landing the former Lyon man have been hit by the re-emergence of Boro for the 26-year-old's signature.

Cash is not an issue for Boro, with manager Gareth Southgate understood to have been told he has more than £15m to spend.

But Southgate is hoping to strike a deal with Fulham that would see Parlour head in the opposite direction and return to London where he spent more than a decade with Arsenal.

Fulham are keen to cash in on their playmaker but Coleman, with only a small transfer budget, is also keen to work his own negotiating skills.

Ideally the former Wales international, a former team-mate of Southgate from their days at Crystal Palace, would like Franck Queudrue as a makeweight in any deal.

Ironically Steve McClaren, who is focused on his new role with England, tried to broker a part-exchange deal involving Queudrue and Malbranque in January.

Injury put paid to any proposed deal though, as the left-back spent the opening month of 2006 on the sidelines.

* Tickets for Boro's opening pre-season friendly, at Rangers on July 22 (3pm), will go on sale from July 10, priced £19 adults and £7 under-16s and over-65s.

Boro have received 468 tickets for a game that will see Southgate take charge of the side for the first time. The tickets will be available from the main Riverside ticket office, which is open from 9.30am to 5pm, or via credit/debit card by calling the club on 0870 421 1986.

* Ryan Valentine last night admitted "four happy years" at Darlington were only tarnished by Quakers' failure to win promotion.

The 23-year-old yesterday agreed to join hometown club Wrexham on a two-year deal.

Valentine will now hope to achieve his promotion dream with the club he supported as a boy, having twice missed out on the play-offs by just one place with Darlington.

"I enjoyed my time at Darlington and my only regret was that we were never promoted during my time there," admitted Valentine. "I had four happy years there and I would like to thank everybody at the club, who have been brilliant to work with.

"Ironically, my last appearance was against Wrexham and I was made captain, which was special."

Having agreed terms with Wrexham yesterday, Valentine will officially become a Dragons player at the end of the month when the club comes out of administration.

No initial fee is involved, although Darlington will be entitled to a success-related payment if Wrexham reach the play-offs or are promoted.

"I was offered a contract by Darlington and I knew there were one or two other clubs interested in signing me," said Hodgson.

"But once I'd spoken to Wrexham my mind was made up. It's a club I've always wanted to play for and hopefully I can help them get promoted next season.

"I've been close in the past two years with Darlington and now I want to play in League One with Wrexham."

* The first round draw for the Carling Cup is made at 12 noon today. Ties will be played in the week beginning August 21, with ties decided on the night with extra-time and penalties if necessary.

* Two of Hartlepool United's most promising youngsters signed new contracts at Victoria Park yesterday.

Matty Robson and James Brown are the latest to put pen to paper ahead of the new season.

Robson has been a regular in the first team in recent seasons, at both left back and left wing, while Brown netted Pool's last goal of the season on the final day of the campaign after a season which was wrecked by a cruciate ligament injury sustained last summer.

Robson said: "It is an honour to be lucky enough to get a new contract. Anyone will tell you when you are out of contract it is a nervous time waiting to find out whether or not you are going to get one. But one was offered to me and I was happy to sign and now I can't wait to get back into training."