MIDDLESBROUGH have not given up hope of adding Chelsea pair Bolo Zenden and Geremi to their ranks ahead of the new season.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb met with Zenden's father and agent Pierre on Thursday to discuss terms over a permanent switch to the Riverside Stadium.

Both parties could not reach agreement and now the Holland international is already considering his options as he plans for life away from Stamford Bridge.

As well as Turkish side Fenerbahce, there are also other clubs in southern Europe who have made contact with his father.

Boro insist talks remain 'on-going' in their attempts to bring Zenden back to Teesside and they are optimistic a deal can still be brokered.

The two sides are understood to have been well apart as they attempted to agree terms this week.

But Zenden's agent did give Boro encouragement last night by insisting there is still the possibility of a deal being completed, although he claimed there are a number of other interested clubs.

"We met but things did not go too well, although that does not mean the deal is dead," said Pierre Zenden, whose son cost Chelsea £7.5m from PSV Eindhoven in 2001.

"There is interest in Boudewijn, he has options all over Europe - England, France, Italy and Spain and there is also Fenerbahce in Turkey, who have called me a number of times."

Boro have also been pursuing Geremi during the past couple of weeks and they will continue their attempts to add him to Steve McClaren's squad before the Premiership kick-off.

The Cameroon man has revealed through his agent, Barry Silkman, that he wants to fight for his place at Chelsea next season.

But it is understood that Blues boss Jose Mourinho believes Geremi has no future at the Bridge and ideally the manager wants to off-load the player.

McClaren, a big admirer of Geremi's talents after a successful loan spell in 2002-03 at Boro, will continue his quest to add the former Real Madrid man to his squad.

But a lot depends on how strongly Chelsea force the African's hand.

Mourinho insists that he wants to have his squad in place before they make the trip for a pre-season tour to America on Wednesday.

The Chelsea boss is keen to add Benfica midfielder Tiago and Marseille striker Didier Drogba to his squad before they travel across the Atlantic.

But Mourinho also wants to make sure he does not take players with him that are unlikely to figure in his plans - with Geremi one of those who may be on his way.

"Any new players we want will have to arrive before we go to the United States.

I want to go there and begin preparations for the season with my full squad," said Mourinho.

"I want the same group of players until the end of the season. Wednesday is the cut-off date for new signings."