BORO'S BATTLE FOR EMMY; Walsall bid to keep schemer Emmanuel Ledesma.

Byline: PHILIP TALLENTIRE

WALSALL haven't surrendered in their battle to keep in-demand Argentinian Emmanuel Ledesma at the Bescot.

Boro are front-runners in the chase to sign the skilful playmaker, who celebrated his 24th birthday yesterday and will be out of contract at the end of next month.

But Saddlers manager Dean Smith believes it's still possible Ledesma will opt to stay with the League One club and sign the two-year deal that the club have tabled.

"We've not given up on keeping him," Smith told the Express and Star. "Hopefully Emmy will be here (next season). He's a great lad and a really good professional. Hopefully he'll stay.

"We've offered a contract to Emmy and we're waiting for them to come back to us.

"All I can say is we want him to stay at the club. We've offered him something which I feel is befitting of him and it's down to the agent and Emmy to get back to us.

"If he's not going to come back I'd hope it would be courteous to tell us so. But if he's not going to stay, then that's football.

"I'd be disappointed not to keep him," added Smith.

"He's used us as a stepping stone but we've used his talents as well.

"I've been perfectly honest with him and told him I believe he would be better staying at Walsall where he can have a good season.

"That would be the way forward. He hasn't stayed in the same place for a period of time and it would be good for him to have a bit of stability in his career.

"But he will be guided by his agent."

Ledesma has had a nomadic career so far.

He was born in Quilmes, Argentina, but began his professional career with Italian club Genoa.

He's also had spells at other Italian clubs and played for QPR in the 2008/09 season.

Ledesma returned home to Argentina to play at the end of his first stint with Walsall last year but penned a short-term contract with the Saddlers in March, scoring four goals in 10 games.

FORMER Boro defender Andrew Davies, left, has signed a one-year deal with Bradford City.

The Stockton-born centre-back, 27, played for City on loan last season and will link up with the Bantams when his current contract with Stoke lapses next month.

BLACKPOOL'S Lomana Lua-Lua is set to sign for Turkish club Karabukspor. Tony Mowbray was hopeful of signing the former Newcastle striker last season. MIDDLESBROUGHBORN Wolves winger Matt Jarvis has been linked with a move to several Premier League clubs including Newcastle. * Barmby loses appeal against Hull sacking: P 46

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NOMADIC: Boro face a battle with Walsall for the signing of Ledesma, 24, left, who has already played at several clubs