LEEDS striker Mark Viduka's move to Middlesbrough took a step closer last night after Michael Ricketts completed a move in the opposite direction.

Ricketts has been given a free transfer after struggling with form and fitness since arriving at Boro from Bolton in a £3.5m deal in January last year.

The 25-year-old, who made just 12 league starts, has ended his Boro nightmare after being offered the chance to get his career back on track at Leeds in the Coca-Cola Championship next season.

Northern Echo SPORT understands Ricketts, whose three-year contract is subject to him passing a medical in Yorkshire, will boost Boro's chances of landing their primary target, Viduka.

The 28-year-old Australian, rated at £4m, has suggested he wants to join up with Steve McClaren's men and Leeds are keen to offload one of their big earners before the start of the new campaign.

Now it seems only a matter of time before the Boro boss achieves two of his transfer aims this summer - by signing Viduka as well as selling the under-performing Ricketts.

The news came on the day McClaren revealed he did not expect to add to his squad before the end of Euro 2004.

But the fact both Viduka, who is likely to have to take a cut in his £65,000-a-week wages to move to Teesside, and Ricketts are not involved in the Championships has meant Boro chief executive Keith Lamb has been able to continue with negotiations.

McClaren said: "June is a notoriously quiet month, even more so with the European Championships going on, as many top players are involved with that. Many are on the their holidays, as are their clubs' representatives."

As well as a new striker - with Viduka, Patrick Kluivert and Ayegbeni Yakubu all targeted - Boro are also looking to add a new right-back to their ranks.

Michael Reiziger, Mario Melchiot and Massimo Oddo are in McClaren's thoughts and he is also trying to tie Holland star Bolo Zenden down to a permanent deal.

* Newcastle United are ready to offer Hugo Viana as bait in an attempt to solve their own right-back problem.

Magpies boss Sir Bobby Robson is keen to bring in a new full-back following the sale of Andy Griffin to Portsmouth and he has a list of targets.

Ajax's Hatem Trabelsi, Greece's Giorgios Seitaridis, Dutchmen Reiziger and Melchiot and Leeds' Danny Mills are all possibilities.

But Robson is also extremely keen on Portugal defender Miguel and a swap deal could be on the cards.

Prior to Euro 2004, Robson did not want to meet Benfica's demands of a £9.5m fee.

However, Newcastle are understood to be preparing to launch a £4m bid for the Miguel with Viana, who cost £8.5m from Sporting Lisbon two years ago, going in the opposite direction.

Midfielder Gary Speed wants to stay at Newcastle next season. He has been linked with moves to Fulham and Leeds but, with one year on his contract remaining, he has set his sights on staying put.

The Welshman, 35 in September, said: "All I want to do is stay at Newcastle. Not only do I want to see out my contract next season but I would like to win another one after that."

* Sunderland fans can rest easy now that South Korea have given up hope of persuading Mick McCarthy to be their new coach.

The Korean FA named Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere as their latest incumbent after failing with attempts to install McCarthy.

The Black Cats boss had been named on a short-list along with Portugal manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, ex-Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque and Argentine Daniel Passarella.

But, despite a lucrative salary on offer, McCarthy signalled his intentions to finish the job he has started on Wearside by guiding Sunderland back into the Premiership.

McCarthy, meanwhile, is expected to complete deals with Mansfield's Liam Lawrence and Newcastle's Steve Caldwell next week.

Caldwell will move on a free transfer from rivals Newcastle, while the cost of Lawrence's arrival may be decided by a tribunal.

* Hartlepool United boss Neale Cooper has revealed defender Chris Westwood has suffered a foot injury ahead of the start of pre-season training on July 1.

Westwood had been completing his own personal summer training schedule when he felt a reaction to an existing problem and there are fears he may have broken a bone.

Cooper said: "It was a surprise for me coming in and seeing Chris on crutches. He has been running as we had told him to and we think it could be an old injury that has flared up and could be a fracture.

"He is due to see a specialist to assess whether he needs rest rather than an operation."