MIDDLESBROUGH will complete the second part of a possible Chelsea treble this afternoon when Bolo Zenden arrives on Teesside to discuss his move from Stamford Bridge, writes Scott Wilson.
Boro chief executive Keith Lamb will meet Zenden and his father Pierre, who also acts as his advisor, as the club look to complete their fourth signing of the summer.
The Dutch international spent last season on loan at the Riverside and is keen to return to the North-East after being told he is surplus to requirements by new Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
Boro officials have been in contact with the Blues over the formalities of the move, which is expected to be completed within the next 24 hours.
The Teessiders had been happy to propose another year-long loan deal but sources in London suggest the 27-year-old is likely to make a permanent switch to the Riverside.
Zenden is about to enter the final year of his current Chelsea deal and the Blues are willing to let him leave for a nominal fee.
The midfielder will become the fourth member of Boro's Dutch contingent alongside George Boateng and new signings Michael Reiziger and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The latter also passed along the well-trodden path from Chelsea to Middlesbrough this summer and he could yet be joined by former teammate Geremi.
The Cameroon international has been squeezed out of the first-team picture at Stamford Bridge and is ready to step up transfer negotiations with Boro.
Mourinho delivered a press briefing this week in which he pointedly failed to mention Geremi at all, and the Blues boss is already planning for life without the midfielder. Geremi, who spent a season at Boro two years ago, is likely to sign his second loan deal with the club once the financial aspects of the arrangement are ironed out.
Chelsea are understood to be willing to pay a small proportion of his wages - an arrangement that hastened the departure of Juan Sebastien Veron to Inter Milan this summer.
Boro are continuing to keep tabs on Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour, although the England international is thought to be a fall-back option if the Geremi deal collapses.
The Gunners are currently fending off feverish speculation regarding a possible Real Madrid move for Patrick Vieira and would be unwilling to allow any of their midfielders to leave Highbury until their skipper's future is secured.
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood admits he is ''becoming irritated'' by Real's repeated attempts to hijack Vieira.
The French international midfielder has been linked with a major transfer to either Madrid, Juventus or even Manchester United in recent summers.
Vieira signed a lucrative new three-year contract at Arsenal just a year ago when Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich made a verbal offer for both Vieira and Thierry Henry to Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein.
* Tickets for Middlesbrough's only pre-season home game go on sale at the Riverside today.
Boro entertain Spanish side Real Mallorca on Wednesday, August 4, (8pm) and tickets are priced £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.
Read more about Middlesbrough here.
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