BENFICA are struggling to raise the cash to finance a deal for Afonso Alves, which could force Middlesbrough into making a difficult decision this summer.

A first full season of struggle in the Premier League has left Alves’s position at the Riverside Stadium in serious doubt, with Benfica the only club known to be interested in putting a package together to sign him at this stage.

While there is likely to be interest from Holland, where he was prolific for Heerenveen, Boro are aware that they will be unable to recoup anywhere near the £12.7m they agreed for him in January last year.

Benfica are keen to strike a deal, although they are not in a strong position with only have around £3m available to spend.

The Lisbon club’s best hope would be that Middlesbrough reluctantly accept to loaning Alves out for the whole of next season, but even that would encounter problems.

Benfica are only able to offer £22,000-a-week at the most and would hope to sign the South American on less than that.

Boro are already paying Alves more, so the 28-year-old could be forced to take a pay cut to secure the move.

Manager Gareth Southgate has become so frustrated with Alves’ failure to become a threat in the Premier League that he has dropped the forward to the bench on a regular basis since the turn of the year.

The eight-time Brazil international has scored just ten goals in 41 league appearances and Southgate has preferred to play Marlon King in the fight against relegation.

Middlesbrough have continued to tie their highly-rated youngsters down to new deals and followed up last week’s new deal for Tony McMahon by agreeing a three-year contract with teenage goalkeeper Jason Steele.

■ Seats for Boro’s final home game of the season, against Aston Villa on May 16, are on general sale.

■ Tickets for Boro’s final game of the season, at West Ham on May 24, are now on sale to season card holders.

Remaining tickets will be made available to Boro Pride members from 9.30am on May 11 before general sale on Thursday, May 14.