MIDDLESBROUGH have turned down the chance to sign former Crystal Palace striker Shefki Kuqi.

Manager Gareth Southgate is keen to add experience and more firepower to his squad before the start of the new season, which Boro will open on Friday, August 7 at home to Sheffield United.

And Kuqi’s advisors have been touting the player around since he parted company with Palace over a dispute with manager Neil Warnock.

But despite claims the 32- year-old had interested both Southgate and West Bromwich Albion, it is understood that Kuqi is not someone Boro are considering.

Ideally Kuqi, a former Blackburn and Ipswich striker, would secure a move to stay in the English league after ending his three-season association with Palace after rejecting a two-year deal.

But now that would seem unlikely and there is apparently interest in him from TuS Koblenz and Scottish Premier League club Hearts.

Middlesbrough’s players are due back for pre-season training on Monday and Southgate is looking to make further additions sooner rather than later.

But one player destined to stick around next season is promising defender Rhys Williams.

Burnley have been looking to sign the Australian but they were unwilling to break the £1m barrier for him and have turned their attention to Newcastle’s David Edgar and Derby’s Tyrone Mears instead.

And it has been confirmed that Williams and any additions Southgate makes in the next few weeks will be looking to play in the curtainraiser for the 2009-10 season on August 7.

The Riverside date with Sheffield United was scheduled to take place on the Saturday, but has been switched to take place on the previous night, televised by Sky Sports.