MIDDLESBROUGH will follow up the arrival of Arsenal's Ray Parlour by completing the capture of Bolo Zenden early next week.

Parlour underwent a medical yesterday and is due to put the finishing touches to a three-year contract at Boro today.

The 31-year-old, with a year still remaining on his deal at Arsenal, has opted to turn his back on Highbury in a bid to hold down a regular first team place.

Boro have swooped for Parlour, believed to be for a fee worth around £1.7m, after being thwarted in their attempts to sign Geremi from Chelsea.

The right-midfielder, whose last England cap came against Italy in 2001, has already agreed terms and no problems are anticipated from the fitness tests he underwent at the club's Rockliffe Park training HQ.

Parlour will become Boro's fourth summer signing with a fifth, in the shape of Zenden, set to be completed after the weekend.

The Gunners star is prepared to turn his back on a cash windfall, of around £800,000, from his testimonial game at the north London club where he has played his football since 1991.

That star-studded match was due to take place next summer but Parlour is prepared to leave now rather than spend large parts of the campaign on the bench if he stayed at Arsenal.

Highbury boss Arsene Wenger last night signed France Under-21 international Mathieu Flamini from Marseille.

Boro first team coach Steve Harrison admitted: "I think things are pending. His record speaks for itself. Over the years he has proved his worth. He'd be a useful addition."

Parlour's agent Steve Kutner also revealed it is only a matter of time before the former England man arrives on Teesside. "Middlesbrough and Arsenal have agreed a deal," said Kutner.

"It pays Arsenal a substantial amount subject to appearances and Ray is taking a substantial pay cut in return for signing a three-year contract."

Parlour arrives with a long list of honours to his name having won the Premiership twice and the FA Cup four times. He has also claimed winners medals in the League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. Now Zenden is on the verge of becoming the fourth Dutchman on Boro's books.

The left-winger has been allowed to leave Chelsea on a free transfer and was initially 'disappointed' with how contract talks went with the Riverside outfit.

However, Zenden is believed to have had a rethink and is ready to return for a second stint at Boro, having enjoyed a successful loan spell last season.

Meanwhile, fresh from his goalscoring first game in a Boro shirt, Mark Viduka is fast regretting having to miss the opening games of the new campaign.

The Australian is suspended for the matches with Newcastle and Arsenal as punishment for his sending-off for Leeds last season against Bolton.

One of Joseph Job, Szilard Nemeth and Massimo Maccarone will be given his chance in the absence of Viduka.

But the £4.5m man has already set his sights on making an immediate impact when he returns to action on August 25 at Fulham.

"It's disappointing but that's life. I wish I hadn't been sent off but there's not much I can do about that," he said. "It's one of those things and hopefully I can make a good start against Fulham."

Viduka was partnered alongside Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for the first time at Rotherham United on Wednesday night.

And, after a largely ineffective opening half, Viduka settled after creating Gaizka Mendieta's goal and then scoring from a penalty.

Hasselbaink's evening was not as productive but his new teammate promised a lot to come from Boro's new look front two this season.

"Jimmy's a great player to play alongside and I'm looking forward to playing with him," said Viduka. "When we start to get that good understanding between each other then I think we'll be in for a good year. Any game we have together, whoever it is against, there is a chance to build up that understanding. There have been a few changes to the side over the summer and we are all working hard to get to know each other, not just the strikers."

* Boro's friendly with Bradford next Tuesday has been cancelled.

McClaren will still be taking a side to Nottingham Forest on the same night.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.