MIDDLESBROUGH have not given up on persuading Coventry City to part with striker Lukas Jutkiewicz despite failing to land him before the transfer window closed a week ago.

Boro thought they convinced the Sky Blues to part with the 22-year-old but his valuation soared through the £1m barrier as the deadline for deals edged nearer.

But Boro manager Tony Mowbray is still keen to add the former Everton player to his ranks and will test Coventry’s resolve again when the window for loans opens to Football League clubs tomorrow.

Coventry manager Andy Thorn was prepared to let Jutkiewicz leave after lining up deals for Cardiff’s Jon Parkin and Norwich’s Cody McDonald.

The deal for Parkin, however, fell through and that contributed to the price hike for Jutkiewicz.

But the main reason for Boro’s failure to bring the forward in was that the Sky Blues enjoyed a seven-figure windfall from the sale of Scott Dann to Blackburn.

When Dann, a former Coventry player, was sold by Birmingham City to Blackburn for a fee believed to be worth around £7.5, there was a 10 per cent sell-on clause boost for Coventry.

And now Thorn said: “I brought Juke to the club so I know how good he is. I’ve had a good chat with him and he’s been as good as gold, completely professional about it throughout and is now looking forward to getting back to playing football.”

Mowbray would prefer to bring in another striker before Saturday’s trip to Burnley, although Scott McDonald’s return to fitness after hamstring trouble has improved his attacking options.

Jutkiewicz is thought to have expressed an interest in moving to the Riverside.

With senior striker options limited to McDonald or Emnes, Mowbray is keen to make additions, but both the manager and his coacing staff are satisfied they have the basis of a squad capable of promotion this season.

“We are all fully aware of where we are and what we need,” said first team coach Mark Proctor. “If we keep everyone fit and suspension free then we are good enough to give anyone a game in the division.

“Because of the run we are on, there is a growing confidence within the group and there is a sense that this could develop into something even bigger.

“We are trying to give the group confidence that this could be our season. We have to prove to them that we can do that even on the back of so many departures.”