Middlesbrough boss desperate to sign Real Madrid's Geremi

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren has admitted Geremi will be a massive loss to the club if he cannot be signed outright from Real Madrid.

Real sports chief Jorge Valdano confirmed over the weekend that Middlesbrough had made an £8 million offer for the Cameroon international.

But that still fell short of Real's £9.6 million valuation.

McClaren said last night: "It's one of a series, but it's high on the agenda."

"At the present moment, he's here and a lot depends on whether we sign him or not."

He added: "You see when your big players are missing exactly what you do miss."

"Geremi is no different, the same as Southgate, as Ehiogu, as George, as Juninho."

"All big players, you do miss them, and Geremi not being there, we've missed him. But other players have come in and done very well."