STEVE McCLAREN has warned two of his players they risk losing their 'star' status if they quit Middlesbrough.

With Aiyegbeni Yakubu agreeing to join the Teessiders on July 1, the Boro boss is hoping to add to his summer dealing by tying up new contracts for Bolo Zenden and George Boateng.

Zenden - reportedly a target for Tottenham - is the most pressing with his contract expiring next month, and this week he voiced concerns over the current offer on the table.

Boateng still has a year left on his current deal and despite both airing concerns over their respective futures at the Riverside, McClaren believes they will put pen to paper on new contracts in the near future.

"I'm very confident we can get them to sign new deals," said McClaren, who will be bargaining from a position of strength following his side's qualification for a second UEFA Cup campaign.

"They love it here. They're stars here. If they moved anywhere else they won't be stars.

"They stay here and they're the stars of the team. It's not too often you get that in your football career.

"It will be a big plus for us and we'll be endeavouring to tie down Bolo Zenden to a new contract and to tie down George Boateng to a longer term deal."

McClaren, who himself has started contract talks with chairman Steve Gibson, has a backbone to the team which he is keen to ensure remains at the Riverside.

Holland duo Boateng and Zenden are among those, and the loss of midfielder enforcer Boateng for 18 matches during the season coincided with the Teessider's downturn in fortunes.

Boro won just four - only two in the Premier League - of the games the former Aston Villa and Coventry man missed, and lost nine.

In that spell they slipped from fifth spot down to ninth and Boateng's return from a broken toe coincided with the end of season upturn in fortunes where they lost just one of their last eight games.

The 29-year-old, however, warned Boro before the end of the campaign he wanted to see McClaren's squad strengthened before he commits to the Teessiders.

The Holland international hinted he would be willing to walk if Boro's ambitions did not match his own, but with Yakubu's arrival expected to be the first of several over the summer, McClaren expects both Boateng and Zenden to stay.

McClaren said: "Players like George are the backbone of this team - along with Southgate, Boateng, Zenden, Downing, Hasselbaink.

"They're in there every day, every training session.

"To lose George for 18 games was a massive, massive blow. You've seen the effect his loss had on us."

* West Brom manager Bryan Robson could be lining up a summer move for striker Szilard Nemeth.

The Slovakia international - Robson's last signing for Boro - is one of the forwards expected to quit Teesside when Yakubu becomes a Middlesbrough player.

* Boro's season tickets prices will rise by up to 8.3 per cent next season. The club revealed there will be across the board increases of £30 meaning the cheapest priced adult seats will rise to £390 in the North and South stands and the North West and South West corners.

Supporters have until July 7 to purchase at the new rate before a further increase will see the cheapest seats rise to £410 and and the most expensive in the West Stand go up to £580.

Season ticket applications will be sent to over 35,000 supporters over the next week. Season ticket holders who have not received their renewal forms by Friday June 3 should contact the ticket office on 0870 421 1986.

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