Middlesbrough bid for Dutch top scorer

In a further sign that Nigerian international striker Yakubu will be leaving Middlesbrough for Everton, the club has made an offer for last year’s Dutch league top scorer Afonso Alves (vid) from Heerenveen.

The official offer was for 6.1m pounds for the talented Brazilian. The 26-year-old scored 34 goals in the Dutch Eredivisie last season and has admitted an interest in moving to the Riverside.

"They are seriously interested in me, Middlesbrough have shown this, too, with their offer. For such a big club and for the Premier League, I am always open and the first talks are really hopeful.” -Alves

The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf claims that Heerenveen have already lined up a replacement for Alves should the deal happen in the form of Paulo Henrique, an 18 year old striker from Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro.

Alves would probably be a big success in the Premiership, combining great foot skills, a nose for goal, pace and a good header. It would be a fairly big swoop should boro make the deal. Alves was a topic of conversation earlier in the season for Barcelona and Manchester United.