Middlesbrough have confirmed their interest in signing Cameroon international defender Geremi Njitap.
Geremi is currently out of favour at Real Madrid, with the Spanish club keen to reduce their wage bill ahead of the new season.
"We are interested in bringing Geremi to Middlesbrough," club spokesman Dave Allan told the English premier league team`s official website.
"We have held initial talks with his club Real Madrid and hope to speak to the player in the near future.
"It is too early to say whether he will be joining us, however. In any case, any deal would be subject to a
successful work permit application and the player passing a medical."
The 23-year-old had been linked with a move to Chelsea over the last year, but the deal was abandoned due to financial constraints at the London club.
Despite a sporadic appearance in the Madrid side over the last league season, Geremi remained a key player for the national team, playing in all three World Cup games.
A strong tackler and attacker, Geremi can play in right or central midfield, where the absence of Robbie Mustoe and Paul Ince would give the Cameroonian a chance to win a first team shirt at Middlesbrough.
