BOLTON Wanderers are threatening to scupper Middlesbrough's hopes of landing Derby County striker Malcolm Christie.

The Rams yesterday revealed they had received a "serious enquiry'' about Christie, a fortnight after Boro launched their move to take him on loan along with teammate Chris Riggott, with a view to permanent deals at the end of the season.

But relegation-haunted Bolton have now emerged as genuine rivals in the chase for 23-year-old Christie.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is bracing himself for the possible loss of striker Michael Ricketts, who was this week granted a transfer request, and knows Derby are desperate to ease their crippling financial worries by cashing in on Christie.

The England Under-21 international could be available for as little as £2m, only six months after Boro were quoted £9m.

Boro yesterday insisted their pursuit of Christie is still "ongoing''.

And a spokesman for Derby confirmed: "We are still holding talks with Middlesbrough about the proposals they have put on the table regarding Malcolm Christie.

"But we have now received a serious enquiry from elsewhere which we are also looking at.''

Boro are also still in talks with Leeds' former Derby midfielder Seth Johnson after agreeing a £4m fee with the Elland Road club.

Johnson has yet to agree personal terms after visiting Boro's Rockliffe Park training base this week to begin negotiations.

Boro are anxious to resurrect their season after slipping into lower mid-table.

Steve McClaren's side have won only one of their last ten League and Cup games and have lost as many matches in a row away from home in all competitions, scoring just one goal.

That is in marked contrast to their form at the Riverside, where they boast the only unbeaten record in the Premiership from 12 games.

McClaren, who admitted after Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Fulham at Loftus Road that he could not defend his side's performance, yesterday issued a rallying cry.

He said: "Everyone is in this together. There's no skulking or hiding away. We have to face the facts - they are there in black and white.

"The only way we will get out of this is by working hard and sticking together.

"There have been a few disappointments along the way, but overall there has been progress and there's more to come.

"We were third early in the season, then reality set in with a few hard games and we are where we are on merit.

"Anywhere in the top half of the table would be a plus and we are aiming high.

"I said when I came to the club that we wanted to build a team of which the supporters could be proud, and at home we have, by and large, done that.''

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