AGENTS acting for Geremi last night launched a desperate attempt to rescue his proposed move to Middlesbrough.

Riverside boss Steve McClaren has warned he will turn his attention elsewhere for a right-sided midfielder if Real Madrid refuse to lower their £9.6m asking price for the Cameroon star.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb hardened his club's stance this week when he hinted they would pull the plug on the deal unless Real were prepared to accept a more realistic fee in a deflated transfer market.

The deposed European champions flatly rejected Boro's £3m offer when Lamb flew to Madrid for talks two months ago.

But, following a successful season-long loan, 24-year-old Geremi is still keen to link up with Boro on a permanent basis.

And his advisors, anxious to end the impasse, remain optimistic that Real will see sense given time.

Manchester City and Turkish giants Fenerbahce have also been linked with Geremi, and Liverpool have kept abreast of developments.

Chelsea were close to signing Geremi last summer before dramatically pulling out of a £7.7m deal because of their financial problems.

Geremi missed the final five matches of last season with an ankle injury after scoring seven goals and convincing McClaren that he should make an all-out effort to secure his services on concrete terms.

* Former Boro defender Gianluca Festa has rejoined his home-town club, Serie B side Cagliari.

The 34-year-old centre-back, off-loaded by Boro last summer, scored his only goal for Division One champions Portsmouth on the final day of last season in the 5-0 romp at Bradford.

* Blackburn manager Graeme Souness has revealed Birmingham are close to agreeing a £5.5m deal for England midfielder David Dunn.

Birmingham revived their bid for Dunn after Blackburn initially rejected their schedule of payments for Dunn and Souness confirmed the deal was close to being sealed.

Boro have been linked with a move, but Souness said: "Birmingham have come back in for David Dunn and the two clubs are close to a deal. We've had a few enquiries for David but Birmingham are the one club who has made a firm bid.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.