TOTTENHAM yesterday emerged as rivals to Middlesbrough in the chase for £8m-rated centre-back Ugo Ehiogu.

Manager George Graham confirmed they are ready to make a bid to take the Aston Villa defender to north London as it became clear that Sol Campbell will go at the end of the season.

England defender Campbell, who can leave on a Bosman, is wanted by Manchester United.

Ehiogu has put his departure from Villa Park on hold until the question marks over future of the current transfer system are removed at the end of this month.

Villa rejected a Spurs bid recently but accepted an offer from Boro two weeks ago for the 27-year-old, only for the player to stall on a move.

But Graham said last night: "Of course we're interested in signing the player but I can't comment on the price. I just name the players I want here and leave the rest to the club, and that is what's happened in this case."

Bryan Robson is still hoping to complete a deal for Ehiogu but now faces strong competition for a player who was born in London.

The Boro boss is also pursuing centre-back Lucien Mettomo, who is currently on trial at the Riverside, and may even attempt to sign both players.

Cameroon international Mettomo is rated at £4m by St Etienne but no decision will be made for four weeks because of the uncertainty over transfer fees.

Meanwhile, £3m striker Joseph Job lost out on an Olympic gold medal by joining Boro in the summer. Job watched on television as his Cameroon teammates won the football final in Sydney by beating Spain on penalties.

The 22-year-old, part of the Cameroon squad that won the African Nations Cup this year, withdrew from his country's Olympic plans when he made the switch to Teesside. "Joseph did not want to be part of the Olympics because he was trying to settle here," said Robson.

Job has joined up with the senior Cameroon squad for the game against France in Paris tomorrow - along with Mettomo. "Jospeh has settled now and is happy to join up with Cameroon again," added Robson.

Meanwhile, Christian Karembeu and Curtis Fleming were last night handed late international call-ups.

Midfielder Karembeu returned from a knee injury for Boro's 3-1 win at Southampton on Saturday and has been asked to join up with the France squad for their clash with Cameroon. Fleming has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifier in Portugal on Saturday and the clash with Estonia in Dublin next week.

l Tore Andre Flo is backing Chelsea to build on their impressive win against Liverpool and start closing the gap on the clubs at the top of the Premiership table.

The 3-0 victory over the Reds at Stamford Bridge lifted the Blues on to 10 points and just two wins behind leaders Leicester.

''There is still time to catch the leaders there is a long way to go,'' said Flo.

''We really needed this one and it was a great result. It gives us something to build on. If we play as well as this there is no reason why we cannot catch up.''