Viduka seals #4.5m transfer

News: Mark Viduka yesterday completed a £4.5 million move to Middlesbrough, where he is due to be paired with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as Steve McClaren assembles a strike force designed to propel his side into the Champions League.

On paper, the two powerful and prolific former Leeds United forwards - Hasselbaink was replaced by Viduka at Elland Road - would form one of the Premiership's most formidable attacking partnerships but, although the Dutchman underwent a medical on Teesside yesterday, his high wage demands could yet hold up the deal. Last season Hasselbaink was believed to have been earning £70,000 a week at Stamford Bridge.

Now 32, Hasselbaink's contract at Chelsea, which had a year to run, has been terminated by mutual consent and he has recently been contemplating a highly lucrative offer from a club in the far east.

Even so Middlesbrough last night were confident of securing their third signing in a week that has already seen the arrival of Michael Reiziger from Barcelona.

McClaren has maintained pressure on Hasselbaink by remaining in touch with Patrick Kluivert, available free from Barcelona and a forward he much admires, as well as Yakubu Ayegbeni, the Portsmouth striker, whose agents both insist they are still talking to the Teesside club.

"Middlesbrough is the team to be at the moment," Viduka explained. "It's both ambitious and stable and is capable of qualifying for the Champions League. With the players we have I think we can do it. There is a massive buzz around the place and I sense good times ahead."

So good he has, albeit reluctantly, forfeited money owed by Leeds. Viduka is understood to be poised to receive around £1 million of his £4.5 million transfer fee by way of compensation for the income he lost in wages deferrals at Elland Road last November when his £65,000 weekly salary was trimmed to £40,000.

Sources close to the forward indicated that by accepting that compromise £1 million settlement from his transfer fee, he had written off half of £2 million outstanding in deferred pay and a sizeable loyalty bonus. It is believed Viduka, who engaged in protracted severance negotiations with Leeds directors, will earn £50,000 a week during his three-year contract at Middlesbrough.

The 28-year-old Australia international spent four years at Elland Road after arriving from Celtic for £6 million but received substantial criticism from Leeds fans as the club were relegated from the Premiership last season amid regular leaks suggesting he did not always pull his weight on the pitch or in training.

"Yes, I became a little bit of a scapegoat," said the man who scored 59 goals in 126 league starts for Leeds. "It happens when you are at a club going through that sort of period. For me, I gave my best during my time there. In four years I was top scorer every year; I was proud to be a Leeds player. There's an element of relief I've left though; it's been a difficult last six months."

Yet his new habitat is imbued with a sense of deja vu.

"There are so many internationals in this dressing-room that it sort of reminds me of the time when I was first at Leeds and they were on the up and playing in Europe. But this is a much more experienced squad and on paper it looks very good. Middlesbrough's defensive record was almost second to none last season and they created a lot of chances; the only thing missing was the finishing touch."

Nevertheless, McClaren previously harboured reservations about Viduka's attitude with Middlesbrough's attempt to sign him in January believed to have been instigated by Steve Gibson, the chairman.

"Once Steve McClaren got the chance to speak to Mark directly he was then convinced Mark was the striker he wanted," conceded Keith Lamb, their chief executive.

Viduka lives in the Harrogate area and admitted not having to move house "removes a lot of stress". Lamb was quick to interject. "This was not a soft option for Mark," he insisted. "It was a decision which took a bit of time for both of us; Mark has had to be convinced we are going places and Steve McClaren and I had to be sure Mark still has drive and ambition."

Viduka certainly talks a splendid game. "The next three years of my life are the most important," he declared. "I want to tell my kids I won trophies with Middlesbrough."