THOMAS MYHRE would rather play second fiddle to Mart Poom at Sunderland than accept any offers from his native Norway.

Goalkeeper Myhre is available on a free transfer, even though he has a year left on his contract.

There is plenty of interest from Scandinavia, but if the 30-year-old cannot clinch a transfer back to the Premiership he wants to seal a move to either Italy or Spain.

It is understood two clubs from southern Europe have made contact with his representatives and he has an offer in place from a top-flight English club.

But if those deals fail to materialise then Myhre is resigned to starting pre-season training with the Black Cats.

The former Everton man is wanted by Norwegian clubs Viking and Stabaek and he has already turned down an approach from Odd Grenland.

But Myhre is prepared to sit on the remaining 12 months of his contract at the Stadium of Light if it means he can postpone a return to Norway.

A source close to the player said: "Thomas does have a number of options from Norway. He could go back there to play his football but he would prefer to do that in a few years.

"He would rather go back to pre-season training at Sunderland than move back to Norway at this moment in his career."

Meanwhile, released defender Phil Babb is wanted by former Sunderland boss Peter Reid at Coventry City. Babb spent two years at Highfield Road between 1992-94 and was signed by Reid in the summer of 2002 from Sporting Lisbon.

McCarthy deemed Babb, one of eight released, surplus to requirements last month and now Reid is on the verge of taking the Irishman to Highfield Road.

l Barcelona have confirmed Newcastle are trying to lure Patrick Kluivert to Tyneside - but the Dutch striker has turned them down.

Kluivert, who is available on a free transfer, is wanted by both the Magpies and Middlersbrough but he is known to prefer a move to either London or Italy.

The former AC Milan man recently dismissed Boro as a 'small club' and now Barca vice-president Sandro Rosell has revealed: "Kluivert appears not to want to go because the teams are not in London.

"But if he remains at Barca it will be in a limited situation - he will train but he will not play as the coaches have already said that they don't count him in the squad."

Newcastle remain determined to snap up young Leeds star James Milner this summer - despite their initial advances being thwarted.

It is understood Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell has turned down a proposed swap deal which would have seen Hugo Viana move the other way.

Now the Magpies are considering other ways of trying to team up Milner, 18, with former Elland Road teammates Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer.

l Ambitious chairman Steve Gibson is focused on adding new firepower to the Middlesbrough squad in a bid to kick on from last season's successes.

Boro won their first major trophy when they they lifted the Carling Cup, but missed out on a top half Premiership finish.

But Gibson wants to make sure they make strides towards the top six and he is aiming to fulfil that dream by ending the club's search for a top striker.

Mark Viduka remains the top target and there has also been interest in Ayegbeni Yakubu and Kluivert.

Gibson said: "Everyone knows our failings. We know them and we are working very hard to put that right.

"There were games last season which we should have won and didn't and the reason for that is that we didn't take the chances created. We're working to put that right and the win in Cardiff was vital for the status of this club."

Meanwhile, Boro could face competition from Newcastle for full-back Michael Reiziger.

Reports in Spain suggest Reiziger, available on a free transfer, is the latest right-back to be courted by Sir Bobby Robson