ITALIAN sources claim that Newcastle and Middlesbrough could be in the running to sign Brazilian superstar Rivaldo after one of his representatives revealed he has received offers from three Premiership clubs.

Liverpool were thought to be leading the chase for the 31-year-old World Cup winner, who will become a free agent in January after agreeing his release from his £100,000-a-week deal with European champions AC Milan.

But agent Jorge Gama yesterday insisted that the Anfield club were not one of the trio of top-flight English sides to declare their interest.

At the same time, a respected Italian journalist close to Milan has spoken of his belief that the North-East rivals may be contenders to land the former World Player of the Year.

Both Newcastle and Boro explored the possibility of signing him in the summer of last year when he left Barcelona on a free transfer, but baulked at his astronomical wage demands.

Manchester United and Chelsea, two clubs with the means to fund such a salary, have also been linked with Rivaldo.

But Corriere Dello Sport football writer Gabriele Marcotti believes the presence of Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle and that of Juninho on Teesside, may be influential factors.

Newcastle boss Robson was general manager at Barcelona during Rivaldo's time there, while Juninho was a teammate in Brazil's World Cup triumph last summer.

Marcotti talked down the prospect of Rivaldo moving to Man. United or Chelsea, saying: "My gut instinct is that I don't think either club would be a good fit for him. Either could have signed him in the summer if they were truly interested.

"My guess is that if he does come to the Premiership, it will be somewhere lower down the food chain. If Middlesbrough want to take another punt on a Brazilian, then maybe there, or Newcastle with the Bobby Robson link. But even then Rivaldo is not the easiest person to convince.

"To be honest, apart from some clubs in Qatar, I don't think there has been any concrete interest.

"At this stage he needs to drop his wage demands. His pay off with Milan was such that they're paying his wages for the season, which amounts to some £2.5m.

"The one thing any club must bear in mind is that Rivaldo will only come if he starts and if the team is going to be built around him, and that would rule out the likes of Chelsea.

"But, by a process of elimination, I think the Premiership is a likely destination.''

Gama, meanwhile, told BBC Online: "We have three offers from English Premiership teams who are interested in Rivaldo.

"At the moment, they are the only three offers that will be put in front of him. I know there has been speculation in England linking Rivaldo with Liverpool, but all I can tell you is that they are not one of the clubs whose offer will be put before him."

Gama confirmed: "He had an offer to play in Qatar for $1m a month, but he turned that down. It's not a question of money with him, he wants to play in the right team."

Rivaldo himself has dismissed suggestions that he could be lined up for a return to Barcelona with Catalan neighbours Espanyol.

Robson is determined to bolster Newcastle's attack after losing Craig Bellamy until February at least with knee trouble.

As first revealed in Northern Echo SPORT last Saturday, Robson is weighing up a £2m January swoop for Leeds striker Alan Smith. Newcastle have also secured first refusal to sign Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert if he leaves Barcelona, and have asked to be kept informed about Chelsea's Icelandic star Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Robson also wants to strengthen the right-back position and Tottenham's Stephen Carr is a long-time target, but Panathinaikos' Greek international Giorgios Seitaridis is being touted as an alternative option. Both players are out of contract next summer.

Seitaridis, 22, is understood to be interesting Liverpool, Barcelona, Valencia and Borussia Dortmund.

Meanwhile, Newcastle right-back Andy Griffin has issued an apology to the club for his shameful sending-off in the reserves against Aston Villa.

Griffin faces a three-match ban for violent conduct and will miss the games with Spurs at St James' Park a week on Saturday, and visits to Charlton and Leicester.

Fined the maximum two weeks' wages, Griffin, 24, admitted: "I let a lot of people down. It was a mistake and I apologise. Hopefully, it won't happen again.''

Newcastle are set to offer Griffin a new contract, but Nottingham Forest are keeping an eye on developments