TUNCAY SANLI is attracting interest from Liverpool who have emerged as the front runners to sign the Turkey forward this summer, despite competition from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

After seeing long-term midfield target Gareth Barry agree a £13m switch to Manchester City this week, Rafa Benitez has earmarked the versatile Middlesbrough player as one of his top summer transfer targets.

But the Spaniard faces competition from Wenger and Roy Hodgson, who is poised to make a £5m bid for Tuncay as he strengthens his Fulham squad following the Cottagers’ qualification for next season’s Europa League.

Tuncay was one of the few members of Gareth Southgate’s squad to emerge with any credit from what was an otherwise dismal season.

He admitted to being flattered by attention from the Anfield club. Asked if he was aware of Benitez’ interest he replied: “Yes, I’ve heard something about that, but nothing official has arrived to me. Of course I would like to play for a big club.”

Southgate has conceded he’s facing a struggle to keep the player he brought to the Riverside on a free transfer from Fenerbache two years ago. But Tuncay has two years left on his current contract and the Boro boss will not allow him to leave on the cheap. At the end of the season Southgate reluctantly admitted that Tuncay had played his last game in a Boro shirt.

“We have to be realistic, Tuncay is an international player who is captain of his country. He has given everything right to the end. He’s a very special person and he’s been a pleasure to work with.

“I will have to sit down with him and see what he wants to do, but it’s obviously going to be very hard to keep him. He needs a stage on which to perform.”

Boro have given 15 players developed by their academy a first team chance and the strength of their youth system will be tested next season, with the likes of Josh Walker, Jonathan Grounds, and Rhys Williams expected to be given further chances to impress.

The academy confirmed a new intake of 16-year-olds yesterday as they build on their impressive reputation for developing young talent.

The 11, who will start their two-year scholarships in July after leaving school, include four schoolboy internationals.

Boro academy director David Parnaby said: “While everyone is disappointed with our current league status, one thing that remains constant is our youth development programme.

We are looking to raise our standards still further and push on again. We are very optimistic about the new intake of scholars. They are a very capable group who can hopefully push on over the next two or three years.”