ASTON Villa are now willing to accept £5.5m for Middlesbrough's top target George Boateng.

The 26-year-old has been top of Boro boss Steve McClaren's shopping list for some time and the Riverside outfit saw an offer, believed to be around £4m, rejected earlier this summer - with Villa asking for £7m.

But it is believed Villa manager Graham Taylor has become frustrated at the lack of takers for the tough tackling midfielder, and now he is prepared to lower his valuation.

Boateng's heart is no longer with the Midlands club and, while the Villans are hoping to recoup £6m for the former Dutch Under-21 international, Northern Echo Sport understands they are willing to accept £500,000 less.

However, if McClaren decides to go back in for the ex-Coventry man he could have his work cut out in trying to persuade the player to come to the North-East.

Boateng's first choice would be a move to London, where cash-strapped Chelsea are showing an interest.

But the Blues, who are alleged to have debts of around £97m, are not believed to be in a position to purchase new blood - with £20m-rated star striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink reportedly up for sale.

That paves the way for Boro, who are still hoping to bolster their midfield following the summer departures of skipper Paul Ince and sidekick Robbie Mustoe.

McClaren has already snapped up versatile Cameroon interational Geremi on a season long loan, subject to a work permit being granted.

And the Boro chief is still hoping to conclude a deal which would see World Cup winning Brazilian Juninho back playing in a red shirt for a third spell.

The Teessiders are hopeful of agreeing terms with Juninho, whose current loan deal at Flamengo is due to run out on July 31, by the end of this week.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb is flying out to Spain to discuss terms with the Atletico Madrid man's father, Osvaldo Giroldo Snr. McClaren is thought to be confident a deal can be finalised.

The former Manchester United No 2 has also had Frenchman Edouard Cisse on trial from Paris St Germain and Swede Jesper Blomqvist is hoping to seal a move to the ambitious Premiership side.

Blomqvist, released from Everton this summer, has flown out to Austria with the rest of the Boro squad and he is expected to play a part in the friendly with Udinese tomorrow.

Meanwhile, new Boro signing Geremi is excited about starting life in the Premiership.

The 23-year-old, who has joined on a year-long loan from Spanish side Real Madrid, said: "Middlesbrough might not be the greatest English team but they have ambitions and discovering the Premier League is pure happiness for me.

"I have always been attracted by this high-level league.

"I also had advanced contacts with Chelsea but it did not work out because of the financial side."

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