AYEGBENI YAKUBU'S long-winded exit from Teesside will reach a conclusion in the next fortnight when he ends his two-year association with Middlesbrough.

The Nigerian striker is expected to be the subject of bids of around £9m from both Portsmouth and Manchester City within the next 14 days which will pave the way for his departure.

It has been well documented over the summer that Yakubu, despite only arriving in July 2005 for £7.5m, has become unsettled in the North-East and Boro are now prepared to cash in.

But they are reluctant to sell on the cheap and are holding out for a £12m cash deal. Privately, however, it is understood an offer in excess of £10m would be difficult to turn down.

Yakubu was part of a 28-man squad that arrived in Austria yesterday for a pre-season training camp, but he could be sold on his return to England.

Both City and Pompey have indicated they are unwilling to meet the £12m valuation, but they will both make bids to tempt Middlesbrough into selling.

Having already lost Mark Viduka to Newcastle this summer, Yakubu's exit would leave Southgate's squad short of a strikeforce that combined to score 35 goals last season.

That is also the number of goals the 24-year-old has scored in 86 starts for Middlesbrough, representing decent value for the fee Steve McClaren's paid.

Southgate has added strikers Tuncay Sanli and Jeremie Aliadiere to his squad in recent weeks, and both are in Bas Waltersdorf getting to know their new team-mates.

But when Yakubu departs, the need for another striker will become even more pressing.

There has been an offer on the table for Alan Smith at Manchester United for two weeks that has been accepted, but the former Leeds man is hoping to sign for a club playing in Europe next season.

Sheffield United's Rob Hulse was the latest name to be mentioned as a possible target yesterday, and he would cost far less than the fee Boro would expect to receive for Yakubu.

The Teessiders have already fended off a verbal offer from Portsmouth this summer, believed to have been a complex bid worth around £10m that included a couple of players.

That was dismissed and manager Harry Redknapp is ready to return with a cash offer despite holding further talks with Preston striker David Nugent yesterday.

Yakubu is keen on a return to Fratton Park, although a possible move to Manchester City would interest the striker.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, installed as City manager last week, regards Yakubu as one of the two top class strikers he needs to turn the club into a Premiership force next season.

Both clubs would be prepared to offer the African an improvement on his Riverside terms.

Southgate needs the Yakubu situation sorting soon, just as he could also do with knowing whether Mark Schwarzer will be around next season.

The Aussie goalkeeper, in a contract dispute with Middlesbrough, could also be sold before the start of the season if a suitable bid comes in and Greek side Panathinaikos are the latest club to have expressed an interest.

Southgate is coping with the transfer frenzy during pre-season preparations in Austria.

Middlesbrough will take on Schalke on Saturday and then Hertha Berlin a week today before returning to Teesside on July 18.

Boro have had their home and away fixtures with Manchester City and Everton affected by the UEFA Cup final next May.

Next season's European showpiece will be staged at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 14 and it is a UEFA requirement that no football is played ten days beforehand.

As a result four rounds of fixtures involving City, Middlesbrough, Everton and Newcastle United have all had to be rescheduled.

Boro's trip to Everton is now on September 30 instead of May 11, while the return fixture at the Riverside will take place on New Year's Day at 3pm. It was originally scheduled for October 6.

The game at Manchester City will now be on October 7, and not September 29. The home clash with City - due to take place on New Year's Day - will now take place on May 11.