MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren is weighing up a £2m bid for West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair.

McClaren is desperate to add more width and creativity to his midfield and England international Sinclair fits the bill.

The 30-year-old is predominantly right-sided but can operate on the opposite flank as he proved during last summer's World Cup when McClaren was assistant coach to Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Sinclair insists he is prepared to stick with the relegated Hammers and help in their attempt to make an immediate return to the Premiership.

But the financial consequences of the drop will force them to consider offers and Birmingham are already understood to be poised with a £1.5m bid for Sinclair, formerly a target for both Newcastle and Sunderland.

McClaren has admitted that the acquisition of two "top-quality'' midfielders is a priority and Boro were yesterday linked with Barcelona's Dutch ace Marc Overmars and Blackburn's David Dunn.

But the package for former Arsenal winger Overmars is likely to exceed £6m, while Everton look to be favourites to land Dunn after the breakdown of his proposed £5.5m move to Birmingham.

Meanwhile, Boro have confirmed three pre-season away games against Hull (Saturday, July 26, 3.00), Rotherham (July 30, 7.45) and Sheffield United (August 2, 3.00).

* Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy is ready to push through a deal for Celtic's Colin Healy.

The midfielder, 23 and available on a free transfer, played under McCarthy for the Republic of Ireland and is believed to have held talks on Wearside.

Meanwhile, Leicester are ready to tempt cash-strapped Sunderland with a £1m offer to take Matt Piper back to his old club.

Piper endured an injury-plagued season on Wearside after former Black Cats boss Peter Reid lured the winger from Leicester in a £3.5m deal last August.

Foxes boss Micky Adams, looking to bolster his squad for the return to the Premiership, confirmed his interest in Piper.

"Matt has not had the best of times at Sunderland, but there's no doubting his ability,'' said Adams.

"He was very popular here at Leicester and, if we can agree an acceptable price, we would like to see him back because we know all about him.''

* Ipswich boss Joe Royle has dismissed reports linking striker Darren Bent with a move to Newcastle.

The England Under-21 international scored the winner in a 3-2 success against Serbia and Montenegro at Hull on Monday night.

Bent and Darren Ambrose were the subject of a £2m-plus bid from Newcastle in February after Ipswich went into administration, but the offer was rejected.

Midfielder Ambrose eventually joined the Magpies a month later, but Royle is adamant Bent will not follow him.

He insisted: "There has been no approach from Newcastle for Darren at all. The Newcastle chief scout (Charlie Woods) even rang me and apologised about the stories."

Southampton, however, could test Ipswich's resolve with a £3m bid for Bent.

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