GARETH Southgate will be playing a waiting game this week as both Mark Viduka and Jeremie Aliadiere decide whether to sign for Middlesbrough.

The Boro boss is currently at Lilleshall completing a two-week residential course that will enable him to claim a UEFA A Licence, but his telephone will remain fully charged as he awaits news on his two leading attacking targets.

Viduka, who is still to make a final decision on his future, has travelled to the United States for a family holiday.

The Australia international held weekend talks with representatives of Middlesbrough, Newcastle, West Ham and Birmingham, and is expected to inform Southgate of his future plans within the next 48 hours.

His representatives have been discussing possible personal terms with all four of his suitors and, while well-placed sources at St James' Park continue to claim that the Magpies remain in the driving seat, Southgate remains hopeful Viduka can be persuaded to extend his stay at the Riverside.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce muddied the waters even further this weekend by offering the 31-year-old a three-year contract, believed to worth around £60,000-a-week.

But while Bruce has cut short a family holiday of his own to chase the striker, it would be a major surprise if Viduka committed himself to a side that only returned to the Premiership last month.

The Aliadiere situation is far simpler, as Middlesbrough are currently the only side to have received permission to speak to the Arsenal striker.

Gunners officials accepted Boro's offer of around £1.5m for the 24-year-old at the end of last week, but Aliadiere could still refuse to move to the North-East.

The striker, who returned to his native France at the end of last season, is currently considering Boro's offer, but sources in London claim he has previously been reluctant to leave the capital.

Wenger has left Aliadiere in a difficult situation by publicly confirming he is surplus to requirements but, as his current contract still has a year to run, the Frenchman could opt to remain at Arsenal and fight for his place.

Southgate is expected to speak to Aliadiere personally this week in an attempt to persuade him to uproot to Teesside.

The Boro boss is also stepping up his pursuit of Levante winger Mustapha Riga as he attempts to bolster his options of the right of midfield.

As well as tracking Porto full-back Jose Bosingwa and Swiss defender Philipp Degen, Southgate is understood to have tested the water with a bid of around £1.3m for Riga, a Ghana-born 25-year-old.

Meanwhile, Scotland boss Alex McLeish is ready to call up James Morrison, despite the Boro midfielder having represented England at every level up to the Under-21 ranks.

Darlington-born Morrison has Scottish grandparents, and McLeish is expected to name him in his senior squad for August's friendly with South Africa.

"I've watched James and he has impressed me," said the Scotland boss. "He's playing at a good level with Middlesbrough and I think he's keen to be involved."

Iraq international Nashat Akram last night claimed he was in discussions with Sunderland over a possible move to the Premiership.

Akram, who has emerged as one of the biggest talents in Asia during a successful spell with Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab is expected to move to Europe this summer.

And, in a statement on his personal website, the 22-year-old midfielder claimed that Sunderland officials had made contact to register their interest in acquiring his services.

"The negotiations with the English club Sunderland are still going and have reached a great level," said Akram.

Roy Keane is currently pursuing a number of transfer targets, but the Black Cats boss has reluctantly accepted that he will be unable to sign former team-mate Diego Forlan unless his current employers, Villarreal, drop their demands to a more realistic level.

Forlan's contract contains a £16m release clause and, while Keane is understood to have offered around £7m for the Uruguay international, Villarreal officials are insisting that he will not be allowed to leave for anything less than the full release fee.

Keane, who is currently compiling a list of alternatives that includes Leeds striker David Healy, is adamant that he will not be held to ransom this summer.

"Like anything else, if you want decent quality you have to pay for it," said the Irishman. "There's no getting away from that.

"But there is no Russion billionaire looking after us so it's a bit of a balancing act for me."