MARIO MELCHIOT has warned Middlesbrough and any other admirers he will not be rushed into a decision regarding his future.

Melchiot has been courted by a number of clubs since it emerged he will leave Chelsea this summer with his contract due to expire at the end of the month.

Boro boss Steve McClaren is keen to add a new right-back to his playing staff following the breakdown of Danny Mills' proposed permanent move from Leeds United.

And Melchiot, who is resigned to leaving Stamford Bridge particularly after new Blues boss Jose Mourinho lined up Porto full-back Paulo Ferreira, is one of those being targeted by McClaren.

The fact the Dutchman is available on a free transfer also attracts Boro, who would then have more funds available to try to bolster their strikeforce.

Melchiot's agent Siegi Lens has told the player to bide his time and wait until Holland's bid for Euro 2004 glory is over.

And now the 27-year-old, also being considered by North-East rivals Newcastle, is ready to follow Lens' advice.

"I think I am now ready to make my move," said Melchiot. "I intend to take my time before making a final decision. This is a big decision and I want to make the right choice.

"I still don't know if I will stay in England but I have had offers from other Premiership clubs and some in Europe. I will decide which option is best for me."

As well as Melchiot, Boro have also considered the possibility of signing Paris St Germain defender Bernard Mendy.

But the 22-year-old would cost around £1.5m and that is why Melchiot is a more appealing target at present.

Boro still have strong hopes of capturing Dutch superstar Patrick Kluivert, even though the player dismissed the Riverside outfit as a 'small club'.

Northern Echo SPORT understands that the Teesside board have made huge strides towards making Kluivert their first summer signing.

But it will not be without a fight and Espanyol are determined to make sure the striker does not leave the Spanish League.

Espanyol - seen as the second club in the city of Barcelona, where Kluivert has just been released from - are ready to make him a lucrative offer.

Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate is backing England's European Championships mission from his armchair.

The Boro captain's dreams of playing in Portugal were shattered by a knee injury.

But he believes Sven-Goran Eriksson's men have a great chance of lifting the trophy for the first time in this country's history.

"You have to go to a tournament trying to win it,'' he said. ''That has to be the mindset from the off, but really, you can focus no further than the opening three games, your group games.

''We have a tough opener, but we have to be confident. If we qualify from the group, anything can happen.

''We have players like Gerrard, Scholes, Lampard and Beckham, who have been outstanding, Campbell and John have had big seasons, then there's Owen, so there is a lot of quality there.

"It's frustrating for me, but I think the squad is in pretty good shape."

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