MIDDLESBROUGH officials remain confident that Bolo Zenden will sign a new deal at the Riverside despite imposing a Friday deadline for their latest round of transfer talks.

The 28-year-old's current contract expires at the end of this week and, despite Boro chairman Steve Gibson tabling a new two-year deal at the end of last season, the two parties are no nearer to reaching an agreement.

Zenden's father and agent, Pierre, blasted Boro's original offer as "derisory" and claimed they were not offering the midfielder what he felt he was worth.

Liverpool have held preliminary discussions and Portuguese side Benfica are also keen.

But, with neither any nearer to making an offer, Boro are becoming increasingly frustrated with Zenden's delaying tactics.

He did the same thing last summer, dragging out his contract talks to the last moment before signing a one-year deal.

The Teessiders are adamant they will not be held to ransom, insisting that their current offer will not be improved.

And, with Boro's players due to return to pre-season training on Monday before flying to the Algarve two days later, Gibson has told Zenden's representatives they must come up with an answer by the end of the week.

With few realistic alternatives, the Dutchman is expected to commit himself to the Riverside for the second summer in a row.

Aiyegeni Yakubu has already done that but, while the Nigeria international is due to complete his £7.5m move from Portsmouth on Friday, he is still to be awarded a work permit.

The 22-year-old has not played the requisite 75 per cent of matches for his country in the last two years to qualify automatically.

Boro have requested a letter from the Nigerian FA to confirm that Yakubu would have played the required number of games had he not been involved in a dispute over a curfew infringement while on international duty.

They have accepted that their initial application will fail because Yakubu does not meet the Home Office's requirements, but are confident of winning the case on appeal.

The Teessiders have used the appeal process in the past to smooth the transfers of both Alen Boksic and Juninho.

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