MIDDLESBROUGH were left clear in the race to sign Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke last night.

Fulham, who were named alongside Boro as the clubs rumoured to be interested in Yorke, are close to agreeing a deal to sign Norway striker John Carew for a reported £7.5m.

Carew's move from Valencia is subject only to a medical after talks were held last night with the London outfit.

The 22-year-old is out-of-favour with Valencia coach Rafael Benitez and club president Jaime Orti confirmed: "The player is going to London to sign for Fulham."

The Scandinavian's departure will leave Boro in pole position to sign United's Yorke for a fee believed to be around £7m.

It is unlikely that the ambitious Cottagers, with chairman Mohamed al Fayed's millions, will swoop for both as they have already spent £11.5m on striker Steve Marlet from Lyon this season.

Riverside boss Steve McClaren is yet to confirm or deny his apparent interest in Yorke and a club spokesman said: "It isn't the club's policy to comment on transfer speculation."

It is not clear as to whether McClaren has the necessary funds available to launch a multi-million pound bid, but he is in desperate need of a goal-hungry striker for his shot-shy squad.

Yorke has been unable to command a regular place in Sir Alex Ferguson's United side and the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy in the summer has left the former Aston Villa man short of Premiership action.

Reports suggesting West Ham's Paolo di Canio is on the verge of signing a two-year deal with the champions has also cemented the belief Yorke is surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.

McClaren obviously knows all about the talents of the 30-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international following his time at Old Trafford as Ferguson's No 2.

And Yorke, who left Villa in August 1998 for £12.6m, is also familiar with Boro coaches Steve Harrison and Paul Barron, who both left the Midlands club in the summer to join the Riverside revolution.

McClaren's side are short in firepower and they have been relying too heavily on the creativity of mis-firing Alen Boksic in recent weeks.

Noel Whelan and Hamilton Ricard were expected to start up front in the postponed FA Cup Third Round game with Wimbledon this afternoon, while striker Boksic continues his recovery from the flu bug which kept him out of the trip to Arsenal.

And McClaren reiterated that Boksic, who was only on the bench for the New Year's Day win over Everton, can no longer take his place for granted in his starting line-up.

"He has worked hard in training - that's what professionals do - and Alen is no different," said McClaren, who will take his side to Selhurst Park on Tuesday with the hope of having the Croatian forward there.

"We've had a chat with the players and told them that everybody within the squad has to be ready when their opportunity comes.

"Everyone is judged on performance and merit and if you are performing you play.

"Competition is what we have been striving for in every position.

"And what Noel and Hammo have done is created that type of competition and they have given us that different option.

"I have been very pleased with Hammo and Noel. They have been given an opportunity and they have taken it.

"They have had two matches now and I have been very pleased with them both."

And McClaren was quick to state that there remains no problem with Boksic and he is still a part of the manager's plans.

"Last year myself and Alen made a statement and I'm not discussing his future or anybody's," he said.

"All we are talking about is Alen missing a game through flu. There's no major problem in that."

Meanwhile, the postponement of this afternoon's clash with the Dons means that McClaren has an extra few days to get his war-wounded back fit.

Both Franck Queudrue and Mark Crossley were nursing knocks and were expected to keep their place but Carlos Marinelli was a major doubt.

The Argentinian had a recurrence of an ankle problem against Everton and was rated at only 50-50, but he could be fit for Tuesday.

Read more about the Boro here.