MIDDLESBROUGH look doomed to fail in their bid to land Steve McManaman.

Boro boss Bryan Robson confirmed the club had agreed an £8m fee with Real Madrid for the England winger.

But that was five weeks ago and McManaman has yet to make a decision regarding his future.

But the 28-year-old former Liverpool star has already made it clear he doesn't want to return to Britain and is biding his time with Chelsea, Leeds, Arsenal and Manchester United also believed to be interested.

"We have spoken to Real Madrid and given Steve McManaman the option," said Boro boss Bryan Robson.

"Now it is really up to Steve as to whether he can assess what he wants to do with his career.

"There is no time limit and we are just waiting for him to come back to us."

Boro though have been dealt a blow with news that Paul Okon is likely to miss the next six weeks with a broken foot.

The Australian national team captain suffered the injury in the first minute of Saturday's 2-1 home defeat against Leeds, but bravely carried on until the 77th minute when he made way for goalscorer Phil Stamp.

Okon will now miss the Olympics next month in his home country and Robson said: "It's unfortunate but he didn't realise it was broken.

"He's got a nasty fracture. It will probably mean he will miss the Olympics and no matter how bad the break is, it's going to be six weeks at least."

With the departure of Christian Ziege to Liverpool now confirmed, Robson may be keen to move in the transfer market.

He has been linked with Inter Milan's Taribo West and Derby County's left-wing back Rory Delap.

The Republic of Ireland international is valued at £3m and Robson will have the perfect chance to check him out in Boro's next Premiership game which is at Derby on September 6..

Croatian striker Alen Boksic is expected to be fit after groin and back trouble.

Leeds, the Premiership's only holders of a 100 per cent record after two wins, suffered more injury problems too.

Eirik Bakke, returning after missing the club's triumph over Munich 1860 through suspension, and Jonathan Woodgate both limped off in the first half. Bakke's replacement Matthew Jones was also substituted late on after receiving a head injury.

But Leeds' lively performance made the losses easier to bear for boss David O'Leary, who joked: ''Only martians would think we didn't deserve to win.

''We deserved to win it, but we made hard work of it in the end.

"Middlesbrough came back at us in the second half when we got a bit tired and the injuries disrupted us.

"We got a bit sloppy as well, but it would have been a crime if we hadn't won."