MIDDLESBROUGH are hoping to complete their second signing of the summer later this week after agreeing a fee for full-back Emanuel Pogatetz.

Boro officials have spent the last week locked in discussions with their counterparts at German side Bayer Leverkusen, and the two parties have settled on a fee of around £1.5m.

The Austrian is expected to arrive on Teesside to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical within the next two days and, provided there are no problems, should put pen to paper at the Riverside before the weekend.

Boro boss Steve McClaren has been tracking the left-footer for the last six months, in an attempt to provide cover for first choice full-back Franck Queudrue.

Pogatetz, who spent most of last season on loan at Grazer AK, is currently playing with Spartak Moscow in Russia.

Both of his temporary employers had hoped to secure his services on a permanent basis, but Boro's willingness to put cash on the table has proved decisive.

Premiership rivals Fulham had also expressed an interest in the 22-year-old, but the lure of European football has helped Middlesbrough see off the London side's advances.

Pogatetz is expected to finalise his move to the North-East at the start of next month, the same time that Aiyegbeni Yakubu completes his £7.5m move from Portsmouth.

McClaren remains confident of keeping midfielder Bolo Zenden at the Riverside - Benfica became the latest club to be linked with a possible move for the Dutch international yesterday - with further talks planned in the next fortnight.

But the Boro boss is not looking to shuffle Stewart Downing through the exit door, despite Spurs making an enquiry about his possible availability last week.

"There is no way that Stewart is for sale," said McClaren. "He is a big, big part of my plans for this season and beyond.

"This is Stewart's hometown club, he loves it here. The fans like him and it is a place where he can continue developing. He has already shown he can get into the international team.

"We have Europe to look forward to again next season and our policy is about keeping our best players. Stewart is clearly one of them."

* Mark Viduka should be named as a substitute for Australia's opening Confederations Cup match against Germany tonight.

The Boro striker, who missed the second half of last season with hamstring and back problems, is some way short of match fitness.

"Mark has been training hard," said Socceroos coach Frank Farina. "But he is understandably a bit rusty after a lack of first-team action."

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