BORO EYEING LOAN STARS; Boss in new mission after drawing a blank.

Byline: ERIC PAYLOR

NO GO: Jeremie GARETH Southgate today buried his deadline day nightmare and turned his attention to potential loan signings.

The Boro boss was hugely frustrated not to have signed a new striker before the transfer window closed at 5pm last night.

A pounds 3m-plus offer for Rob Hulse failed when the Derby County striker refused a move to Teesside.

Hulse said: "It was flattering and a big price tag, but something just didn't seem right about moving. I am very happy where I am.

"The club were trying to let me know what was going on all day, but I'm just happy to still be at Derby County and we have got it resolved."

Southgate was working from a long list of targets yesterday and his phone was red hot as he made several approaches for players -defenders as well as forwards.

But every attempt was met by a closed door and in the end the manager had to concede defeat.

Southgate's failure to bring in a new striker led to him pulling the plug on Jeremie Aliadiere's proposed four-month loan move to Premier League Fulham.

Away from strikers, Southgate is reported to have made an inquiry about Sheffield United centre-back Matthew Kilgallon, which was rejected.

Southgate had been given the green light to try to make a deadline day breakthrough, even though Afonso Alves was prevaricating on his move to Qatar side Al Sadd.

Alves has had medicals in Doha and took part in contract negotiations along with his agent, but by 5pm had not signed.

However there is still plenty of time for negotiations to reach a successful conclusion because the Qatar transfer deadline window does not close until September 15.

Boro are still confident that the deal will eventually go through.

Alves' delay leaves Southgate still with his full complement of four strikers - Alves, Aliadiere, Leroy Lita and Marvin Emnes - with Academy teenager Jonathan Franks pushing to join them.

The surfeit of numbers means that Southgate will not even be able to contemplate making a contract offer to former Sheffield United striker Danny Webber.

Boro can sign Webber at any time because he is a free agent, but this possibility will have to stay on the back burner.

It is the loan market which now most concerns Southgate.

He is still determined to bring in a new centre-forward, and will now start sifting through new lists of names.

Boro can negotiate loan signings at any time, outside of the transfer window, so there is still a possibility the manager will have a new face in place before the next Championship game against Ipswich Town on September 12.

CAPTION(S):

NO GO: Rob Hulse, left, refused a move to Teesside while Jeremie Aliadiere, above right, is staying put and the move for Danny Webber, top right, is on hold TRANSFER MATTERS TO PONDER: Boro boss Gareth Southgate