MIDDLESBROUGH target Chris Sutton won't be rushed into a decision over where his future lies.

The Chelsea striker had talks with Celtic at the weekend after the Parkhead club matched Boro's £6m offer.

Aston Villa and Tottenham have also been linked with Sutton, who is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge following the £15m signing of former Boro target Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

But Sutton's agent, John Viola, yesterday revealed that a mystery overseas club have also joined the chase for the 27-year-old frontman.

Viola confirmed: "Middlesbrough, Celtic, one other English club and a foreign club are interested in Chris, but he will be sitting on things for a while.''

Sutton, a £10m flop with Chelsea, is understood to be seeking a £30,000-a-week, four-year contract, which would represent a £9,000-a-week hike on his existing deal.

With new Celtic boss Martin O'Neill working as a BBC TV pundit at Euro 2000, Bhoys' director of football Kenny Dalglish - Sutton's manager at Blackburn during their title-winning campaign of 1995 - is believed to have been a key figure in negotiations.

Meanwhile, Boro boss Bryan Robson yesterday slapped a 'priceless' label on Christian Ziege.

Liverpool have again been linked with Boro's German wing-back, who cost £4m when he arrived from AC Milan last summer.

But Robson insisted: "Christian is not for sale and Liverpool don't have enough money to buy him.''

Robson has also told Blackburn boss Graeme Souness to forget about striker Brian Deane. "He's not for sale - end of story,'' said Robson.

l NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson is ready to redouble his efforts to persuade Deportivo La Coruna to lower their £4m demand for Helder - after Benfica snapped up fellow Portuguese defender Fernando Meira.

Helder impressed Robson during his loan spell last season, but the Magpies manager is baulking at the asking price because of the player's propensity to break down with injuries. Meira, who made a flying visit to Tyneside a fortnight ago to talk to United, has signed a five-year deal with Benfica.

The Lisbon giants have agreed to pay compensation to Vitoria Guimaraes, with whom Meira had been in dispute.