MIDDLESBROUGH have declared an interest in Marc-Vivien Foe in a move that threatens Manchester City's hopes of sealing a deal for the Cameroon midfielder.

Northern Echo SPORT understands that Boro, seeking two "top-quality'' midfielders, have enquired about 28-year-old Foe, who made a major impact while on loan to City from Lyon last season.

Foe hit nine goals in 35 games and City manager Kevin Keegan wants to make the deal permanent.

But Boro have also been alerted after Foe's agent, Monaco-based Scot Willie McKay, indicated he was attempting to persuade French champions Lyon to make the former West Ham man available on a free transfer, even though he still has a year to run on his contract.

Boro boss Steve McClaren, who is also still in the hunt for Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Dunn despite strong interest from Birmingham City, is looking at several targets after being frustrated in his attempt to push through a deal for Foe's Cameroon colleague Geremi.

Both players, along with Boro forward Joseph-Desire Job, are currently involved in their country's Confederations Cup campaign.

Foe, once a target for Manchester United and Liverpool, cost West Ham £4.2m when he moved from Lens four years ago.

But now he is available for a knockdown fee at the most and McClaren, who has to offload a striker before pressing ahead with his move for Sunderland's Kevin Phillips, could use Job as bait in a bid to land Foe.

Job played alongside Foe at Lens and had a loan spell in France with Metz two seasons ago.

He re-established himself with Boro last season before suffering a fractured skull, but though he staged a remarkable recovery to return to action, McClaren is now prepared to cash in or use him as a bargaining tool.

McClaren hasn't given up hope of securing Geremi on a concrete agreement after his successful season's loan at the Riverside.

But Real Madrid must drop their £9m-plus asking price to around £4m for there to be any likelihood of a deal.

Meanwhile, Manchester City have been drawn against Welsh side Total Network Solutions in the two-legged UEFA Cup qualifying round.

Keegan's men, who qualified for Europe via the Fair Play League after pipping Boro, will have home advantage in the first leg on August 14 - two days before City start their Premiership campaign at Charlton. The second leg of the clash with Llansantffraid-based TNS - runners-up in their domestic league last season - is two weeks later.

The August 28 fixture could take place at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, if TNS' 2,000-capacity Recreation Field ground is deemed not able to stage the fixture.

* Bradford City have confirmed their interest in re-signing striker former Boro schemer Dean Windass.

The Bantams are in negotiations with Windass' agents, with the 34-year-old available on a free after leaving Sheffield United.

Windass arrived at Bradford as a £950,000 signing from Oxford in March 1999.

A £600,000 move to Boro followed two years later before loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and rivals United, who signed Windass in January.

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