STEVE McClaren will make Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen his number one target if unsettled Australian Mark Schwarzer completes a move to Portsmouth later this week.

McClaren is still hoping to keep Schwarzer at the Riverside despite accepting his shock transfer request on Friday morning.

But, with Pompey boss Harry Redknapp expected to table a £2m bid for the 33-year-old in the next 24 hours, the Middlesbrough manager is already lining up a possible successor.

And, with Jaaskelainen currently refusing to sign the three-year contract extension he agreed in the summer, Bolton's longest-serving player has shot to the top of McClaren's wanted list.

Schwarzer, who was on the bench as Boro toiled to a 1-1 draw with Nuneaton on Saturday, handed in his request when told he would not be starting at Manor Park.

He was then told to spend the weekend considering his position and, while McClaren has insisted the former Bradford goalkeeper still has a future at the Riverside, the last 48 hours have strengthened his resolve for a move.

"I have been here for nine years," said Schwarzer. "And always been loyal and never caused a problem. But this is the way that it goes. It's football. You deal with it and you live by it. I have made my decision.

"I have handed in a transfer request, the manager agreed I can leave, and we are trying to resolve the matter as soon as possible."

That resolution could come as quickly as this evening if McClaren can be persuaded to accept Redknapp's offer.

The Portsmouth manager, who is desperately seeking a replacement for the injured Jamie Ashdown, has already had approaches for three different goalkeepers knocked back.

His attempt to hijack Antti Niemi's move from Southampton to Fulham ended in failure, while Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has rebuffed his advances towards Dean Kiely.

With Chelsea's Carlo Cudicini also playing down talk of a move to Fratton Park, Redknapp has turned his attention to Schwarzer.

Portsmouth's position in the Premiership drop zone hardly makes them the ideal destination for a goalkeeper linked with Manchester United and Arsenal as recently as last January.

But, with the start of the World Cup just five months away, the Australian cannot afford a protracted spell on the sidelines.

McClaren will only sanction his sale if he has a replacement lined up and, with Sam Allardyce growing increasingly tired of Jaaskelainen's refusal to sign a new deal, the England number two is confident of signing the 30-year-old for a knockdown fee.

Jaaskelainen agreed a new three-year deal in the summer, but a wrangle over the structure of wage payments means it currently remains unsigned.

Despite the Finn's current deal still having 18 months to run, Allardyce is keen to resolve the situation this month and, with former England international Ian Walker waiting in the wings, the Bolton boss has grudgingly accepted he may be forced to cash in.

"There's a stand-off in terms of a certain legality of a contract other players have signed here," said Allardyce. "In the end, we will do what we need to do."

While Schwarzer's future is expected to be resolved by the end of the week, Boro defender Ugo Ehiogu should be a West Brom player by close of business tonight.

The 33-year-old, who joined Boro in an £8m move from Aston Villa and is out of contract in the summer, agreed terms with Baggies boss Bryan Robson at the weekend.

His move signals the end of a decade-long defensive partnership with Gareth Southgate - the pair first came together at Villa Park in 1996 - and removes around £40,000-a-week from Boro's wage bill.

Ehiogu, who has made 130 senior starts for the Teessiders, has taken a substantial wage cut to prolong his playing days at the Hawthorns.

He could yet be joined in the Midlands by Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, after Robson also inquired about the availability of the Dutchman.

As one of the highest earners at the Riverside, Hasselbaink is one of the players McClaren is willing to sacrifice this month. But, with his career gradually winding to a close, the former Chelsea striker is understood to prefer a return to his native Holland.

Hasselbaink's exit would enhance McClaren's spending power this month, with Aston Villa defender Mark Delaney continuing to interest the England number two.

McClaren is desperate to sign a right-back following Abel Xavier's 18-month ban for failing a drugs test, but Boro are expected to face competition from Manchester City for the Wales international.

* Stewart Downing will make his eagerly-awaited return at the Riverside this evening after Middlesbrough reserves' match with Sunderland was switched from Billingham Synthonia's Central Avenue ground. Admission is free to season ticket holders and £2 for everyone else.

* The first leg of Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup clash with Stuttgart will take place in Germany on Thursday, Feb 16. Tickets will go on sale by the end of the month.

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