MIDDLESBROUGH chairman Steve Gibson is adamant his club will win their fight for £7m-plus damages from Liverpool over the Christian Ziege affair.

Boro have launched a landmark lawsuit against Liverpool after the Anfield outfit became the first Premiership club to be found guilty of making an illegal approach to a player when Ziege joined them for £5.5m in August 2000.

Liverpool were fined £20,000 in March 2002 by a Premier League commission, who also punished Ziege with a £10,000 fine for his part in the deal.

The German international, now with Tottenham, activated an escape clause in his Boro contract to clinch his move to Merseyside.

But Boro claimed Liverpool had obtained information about the confidential clause, which allowed Ziege to leave the Riverside if a minimum £5.5m offer was received.

The case is due to be heard in the High Court on March 22, and Gibson said: "We expect to win - and we will win.

"Liverpool have already been found guilty of illegal behaviour, and I have gone on record many times about the way they have behaved. We have been really tenacious."

Northern Echo Sport understands that Liverpool have already made two attempts to settle with Boro and avert court proceedings, which will see the likes of Anfield manager Gerard Houllier and chief executive Rick Parry called to give evidence, as well as Ziege himself.

Riverside chiefs are also thought to be expecting a fresh offer from Liverpool to settle out of court.

Boro's hopes of pursuing their claim were dashed in May 2002 when a High Court judge threw out the case, but they successfully challenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal six months later.

Boro maintain Ziege's true market value at the time of his transfer was £7.5m and that they received offers of that amount from Rangers and Chelsea.

The Teessiders are seeking the extra £2m they feel they should have received, plus around £4.5m compensation for other losses.

These include Premiership placing bonus payments, loss of gate receipts and loss of merchandising sales.

Boro are also claiming the reported £825,000 they paid Terry Venables to assist Bryan Robson in saving the club from relegation following Ziege's departure.