MIDDLESBROUGH will claim an illegal approach over Christian Ziege's defection to Liverpool - unless the Anfield club agree to pay a total of £8m for the German international.

Ziege is due to complete his protracted £5.5m move to Merseyside and sign a deal worth an estimated £45,000-a-week.

But the saga is far from over, with Boro now determined to double their money on Ziege, who arrived from AC Milan last summer in a £4m deal, by demanding that Liverpool fork out a further £2.5m in compensation.

If they refuse, Boro are ready to make a formal complaint to the FA about their conduct.

Boro are loath to make official comment on the background to the transfer, but sources close to the club have indicated a feeling that Liverpool's German duo, Dietmar Hamann and Markus Babbel, had an unsettling influence on Ziege during Euro 2000.

Before the 28-year-old wing-back linked up with Germany, he had spoken of how happy and settled he was on Teesside.

But all that changed when it emerged he had a get-out clause in his £40,000-a-week contract, which still had three years to run, and that Liverpool were interested.

Anfield boss Gerard Houllier, aware that a £5m bid would free Ziege to open talks, offered £5.5m and the final obstacle to the transfer was removed when Boro admitted defeat in their bid to block the deal in the High Court.

Boro boss Bryan Robson said: "The only stumbling block is the valuation and that will be an ongoing thing.

"We'll receive £5.5m and Liverpool will get his registration, but we're looking for compensation.''

Robson admitted: "The whole thing has left a bitter taste in my mouth, because I've lost a very good player.

"But it was Christian's decision and I've got no problem with him personally. I can understand his reasons. He thinks Liverpool are a bigger club than we are in terms of charisma. He's looking at the history of that club.

"Gerard Houllier has made loads of signings, but all I would say is: 'Where were Liverpool a year ago'?''

Ziege's switch will be finalised in time for him to be registered to play in this season's UEFA Cup.

Frenchman Houllier, clearly far from enamoured with Boro, last night confirmed: "Ziege has won his court case, which I expected he would, and it's a matter of a few days before it's all sorted out.

"They tried to hold him back and I don't really want to comment further on Middlesbrough. If we do have something to say, it'll be later.''

Robson insisted: "At least the money we're getting adds to my warchest, but there won't be any more loopholes in contracts at this club and the way the squad is being built will encourage players to stay.

"I've got two players absolutely delighted that Christian Ziege has left. Dean Gordon and Keith O'Neill see it as a great opportunity to prove their worth on the left. In the first two games this season, Keith has done a great job.

"And with what I've seen of England on the left, Dean can still get in there. He's not had any ill-effects from the latest surgery on his knee, so hopefully he's on the way back now.''

Boro, top of the Premiership on alphabetical order ahead of Tottenham, host David O'Leary's Leeds today with Robson joking: "Can we have World War III now and stop the league? We'd be in Europe!

"It's nice to be top but nobody is getting carried away after only two games. We know Leeds are a good team and they're going to be challenging for the title.

"But it's a good test for us and if we do well against them I think we can look forward to a reasonable season.

"They had a hard game when they beat Munich 1860 in the Champions' League qualifier on Wednesday, so hopefully that will have taken something out of them.''

Robson is hoping skipper Paul Ince, defender Colin Cooper and striker Alen Boksic will be fit to return after missing Tuesday's 1-1 home draw with Tottenham.

"All three have a good chance,'' said Robson. "Paul and Colin have probably got a better chance than Alen, who'll have a fitness test because he's got a slight groin strain. Hopefully he'll come through. The fans will have been disappointed he didn't play the other night because he had a tremendous start with his two goals at Coventry.''

Inter Milan were reported to be keen to take England midfielder Ince back to the San Siro, but Robson said: "Why should he want to go back to Italy? He didn't want to go there in the first place.

"His wife is a month away from having a baby and his son is in the academy at Liverpool.

"There are a lot of big challenges ahead of him - World Cup qualifiers with England and he's hoping to have some success with us. He's happy here and he's important to us. I'm trying to build a side around him.''

Boro, who have so far sold only around 25,000 season tickets, were almost 4,000 short of their 35,000 capacity for the Spurs game.

But Robson said: "You can't force fans to buy season tickets. I think a lot of fans were waiting this summer because we didn't sign Juninho, who was a favourite of the fans.

"I think they're going to wait and see who I bring in and then make a decision. But the fact is, the Leeds game will be a sell-out.''

l Boro left-back Craig Harrison, on loan at Crystal Palace, is set to make the move permanent in a reported £250,000 deal.

l Italian defender Gianluca Festa, who underwent close-season hamstring surgery, will come into contention for Boro's game at Derby a week on Wednesday.