Middlesbrough's promise to look far and wide in the hunt for strikers is being fulfilled as they run the rule over a series of targets.

On Thursday the Teessiders declined to comment on claims from Mark Viduka's agent Chris Page that they will begin talks with the Australian next week as the Henri Camara camp revealed that they are one of a series of clubs to have declared an interest in the Wolves hitman.

Boro showed their hand, at least in part, recently when they revealed that Viduka, Patrick Kluivert and Yakubu Aiyegbeni are at the top of their shopping list, although the noises from both Barcelona and Portsmouth have been less than encouraging since.

However, with cash-strapped Leeds desperate to offload big earner Viduka and Steve McClaren equally keen to recruit a man with a proven track record in the Barclaycard Premiership, they are hopeful that they can offer him an attractive package with the chance to play European football an added bonus.

McClaren may consider that his trump card, although there is interest from elsewhere with Roma, Benfica and, until coach Rafael Benitez's departure, Valencia all monitoring the situation.

McClaren and chairman Steve Gibson have set their sights on recruiting two strikers this summer and had high hopes of landing two of their top three choices, although there is little doubt that there are contingency plans should that not come to fruition.

Blackburn-bound Paul Dickov is understood to have been one of the men lower down the list, while Senegalese international Camara too enjoyed some success in last season's Premiership to alert potential purchasers.

Boro's stated intention to increase firepower, as well as a first ever UEFA Cup campaign, has helped season ticket sales, and although the club has not released figures they are confident of bumper crowds for the new season.

"We want to give a big thank you to all those supporters who have backed the club by purchasing season tickets," said communications manager Dave Allan. "The support is very much appreciated.

"It's too early to say how many we have sold, but our ticket office staff are now busy processing the applications."