BENITO Carbone has returned to Bradford City after being unable to agree personal terms with Middlesbrough.

Carbone's three-month loan spell at the Riverside was not due to come to an end until after the club's final Premiership clash at Leeds on Saturday.

But it is believed the 30-year-old front-man would not budge over his demands for a four-year deal and his high wage demands.

A Boro spokesman admitted: "We have been unable to reach agreement on a permanent contract with Benito Carbone, therefore he has returned to Bradford City, where he is still under contract."

Bradford, desperate to have Carbone's £40,000-a-week wages off their hands, had agreed a cut-price £3m fee with the Teessiders.

But the move broke down when the player refused to accept the club's offer.

It is the second time Boro have been unable to thrash out a permanent deal with the diminutive Italian, after ex-boss Bryan Robson failed in his bid on transfer deadline day last season.

Current manager Steve McClaren was keen to add Carbone to his playing staff after the much-travelled forward - he has played for 11 clubs - helped his side climb up the Premiership table with a string of fine displays.

McClaren is now expected to react by focusing his efforts on bringing in South African forward Benni McCarthy and Derby front-man Malcolm Christie.

McCarthy, whose move to Boro broke down earlier this season because he was not granted a work permit, has been on loan at Porto for the past few months.

The Portugese side want to sign the £6m-rated forward permanently but they have been unable to agree a package with the player's club Celta Vigo - something Boro are reported to have already done.

Christie is also valued at £6m, and relegated Derby will struggle to keep hold of the former England Under-21 international now that they are facing life in the First Division.

Meanwhile, Boro centre-back Gareth Southgate believes the club are in safe hands.

Southgate, who is expected to be named in England's World Cup squad today, has been outstanding since his switch from Aston Villa last summer and has been crowned the club's Player of the Year.

The 31-year -old said: "This really does mean a lot because it comes from supporters of the team you play for. You represent these people and do your best for them. I know we're in this game to win things but I think we've had a good season. From what I've seen the signs are good for the future here."

Right-back Robbie Stockdale picked up the Young Player of the Year after a season which was capped by him making his debut for Scotland.

And he said: "I last won this award two years ago and then didn't play another game for something like 18 months - I hope that isn't a sign of things to come!

"This has been a great year for me. If someone had told me 12 months ago that I would be standing with this award and with an international cap and a place in the side I wouldn't have believed them.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.