MIDDLESBROUGH'S new Spaniard Gaizka Mendieta was last night labelled the 'ideal player' by relieved manager Steve McClaren after he finally landed his man.

Mendieta will be unveiled at a press conference at the club's Rockliffe Park HQ this afternoon after agreeing to a season long loan deal - which will become a permanent four year contract next summer.

And the arrival of the Lazio midfielder, who cost the Rome outfit nearly £30m in 2001, represents a major coup for McClaren who has been searching for a replacement for Cameroon star Geremi.

Geremi joined Chelsea from Real Madrid this summer and the Boro boss has been left frustrated, as attempts to lure a string of targets failed to come good.

Trevor Sinclair, Brett Emerton and David Dunn were all on McClaren's shopping list but they also moved elsewhere.

None would have provided Boro with the type of star quality to pull in supporters to the Riverside - something Mendieta will do.

The 29-year-old will make his Premiership debut in emphatic fashion against Arsenal on Sunday in front of the Sky cameras.

"We're absolutely delighted to have signed Gaizka," said McClaren.

"We have worked extremely hard and beaten a lot of other clubs to bring to Middlesbrough a truly top quality player. His signing shows not only what an attraction we now are for top players but just how ambitious we are too.

"I came across Gaizka many times in European competition when I was with Manchester United and he was at Valencia.

"He was undoubtedly one of the best players in Europe at that time. He was so good that Lazio paid nearly £30m for him."

He added: "As Boro fans know, we've spent all summer searching for a quality player to replace Geremi on the wide right. I'm confident we've got the ideal player in Gaizka.

"He is extremely skilful and we believe he'll bring much creativity to our play, while also contributing towards our goalscoring."

Mendieta is hoping the switch to the Premiership will help him re-establish himself back in his country's squad.

The former Valencia man played in the 2002 World Cup but has been overlooked recently by Spain boss Inaki Saez.

Following the impressive capture, McClaren is now hoping to boost his squad further by adding Fulham's Sean Davis to his squad.

Boro are in direct competiton with Everton for his signature.

And it is believed that Davis held talks with Everton boss David Moyes yesterday, stealing a march on Boro's attempts. Boro now expect talks with the midfielder to start early next week.

No deal will be completed until Fulham have sealed the signature of Sunderland's Claudio Reyna as a replacement.

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy confirmed yesterday that talks were still continuiing between the clubs.

The transfer window closes on Sunday week and deals must be completed by then.

Meanwhile, Boro boss McClaren has described reports suggesting Danny Mills is on his way to the club on loan as 'pure speculation'.

The England international is out of favour at Elland Road and manager Peter Reid has accepted loan offers from two unnamed Premiership clubs.

Along with Boro, Birmingham and Manchester City are said to have inquired.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce last night revealed he will step up his efforts to sign Mills on a season-long loan deal.

He said: ''He is somebody we are interested in. I have spoken to Peter Reid and will do again.

''There is a little bit of interest there.''

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