Juninho is at the centre of a new year transfer scramble after an outstanding first half of the season in Brazil.

The little playmaker, rejected by Middlesbrough at the end of last season, is now a target for clubs in Spain and Brazil.

Juninho left Atletico Madrid to link up on loan with Vasco da Gama in the summer and now the Brazilian club are desperate to push through a permanent deal.

Yesterday they offered World Cup striker Edmundo and wing-back Felipe in a proposed swap deal for the former Boro midfielder.

Juninho has established a successful partnership with club captain Romario.

The pair have also linked well together for Brazil, who are on their way to qualifying for the World Cup finals.

But Spanish clubs Seville and Deportivo la Coruna are interested in taking Juninho back to Spain.

Atletico, who are facing heavy debts, are ready to sell but not for less than £7.5m.

Boro refused to pay Atletico's asking price last May after Juninho spent seven months on loan at the Riverside and are unlikely to re-enter the bidding for the 27-year-old.

Meanwhile, transfer-listed Middlesbrough defender Gianluca Festa was yesterday praised by coach Terry Venables.

The Italian centre-back was unhappy under Bryan Robson and demanded a transfer last month after being left out of the side.

But he has been brought back by Venables and won a man-of-the-match award in the win against Liverpool this week.

Festa has not asked to come off the transfer list but Venables said: "I'm very pleased with Gianluca, he's done really well since I came here.

"He is still on the list but that is something between him and Bryan. I have never discussed it with him. I'm just concentrating on trying to get the players to give their best and his attitude has been excellent."

Festa was physically sick on the pitch before the second half started against Liverpool and Venables explained: "He'd been suffering from a bad cough and had a coughing fit on the pitch and it made him sick."

Colombian Hamilton Ricard, also left out under Robson, is free of suspension and will be back to partner Alen Boksic against Coventry tomorrow at the Riverside.

Boro have taken seven points in four games since Venables arrived but have only scored twice.

Ricard, top scorer in the last two seasons with a total of 32 goals, played in the first game before a three-match ban and was praised by the former England coach.

"Scoring is an obvious problem for us but we have had the strikers injured and suspended. It will be a big bonus to have Hamilton back," he said.

Teenage midfielder Mark Hudson, who replaced Christian Karembeu for 20 minutes against Liverpool, will retain his place in the squad.

"Not many people can say they made their debut against Liverpool, so I'm just hoping for another chance," he said yesterday. "It was a pretty big change to what I'm used to with the reserves."

Robbie Mustoe could be back after recovering from a virus but Phil Stamp will be ruled out again with a neck injury suffered at Sunderland three weeks ago, and a back problem will keep Gary Pallister on the sidelines.

l Former Chelsea coach Gianluca Vialli has revealed he dreams of one day taking the reins at Italian giants Juventus.

Vialli has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea at the start of this season and being replaced by former Valencia and Atletico Madrid coach Claudio Ranieri.

But he impressed during his two-year coaching tenure at Stamford Bridge, during which time he won the FA Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup and Coca-Cola Cup.

Vialli played for Juventus for four years and was skipper when they won the European Cup in 1996.

He is keen to renew the relationship, telling the Gazzetta dello Sport: ''I really dream of one day coaching Juventus.