Teddy Sheringham's brief and undistinguished Manchester United career may be about to end with a move to Middlesbrough.

United's manager Alex Ferguson has always publicly backed the £3.5 million striker but, if he could recoup around £2.8 million, he would probably sanction the sale.

Although the 33-year-old Sheringham arrived from Tottenham little more than a year ago as a replacement for Eric Cantona, he had a disappointing season and was dropped on several occasions.

Middlesbrough's manager Bryan Robson, who has just completed the £2.3 million signing of Gary Pallister from United, is keen to add guile and experience to his squad in a bid to avoid a repeat of the relegation suffered in May 1997 after only one season in the top flight.

"Pally has great experience and has been a winner at Manchester United and I hope that he will bring some of that to Middlesbrough," he said. "With Derek Whyte leaving the club last season and Nigel Pearson retiring, we needed someone to provide competition for the centre-back places with Gianluca Festa and Steve Vickers. I'm sure Pally will prove to be a great signing."

Pallister, who won every domestic honour with United, became surplus to requirements at Old Trafford following the arrival of record £10.75 million signing, Dutch international Jaap Stam, from PSV Eindhoven. He first joined Boro in 1984 and helped the club into the top flight before he left in 1989. The deal represents good business for United, who have made a £200,000 profit on the player, despite having him for the best part of his career.

Sheringham, meanwhile, may welcome a change. If Ferguson's pursuit of Ariel Ortega proves successful he would probably be consigned to the reserves. United should learn this weekend whether their offer of around £8 million has been accepted by Valencia.

But Dwight Yorke, mooted as a partner for Andy Cole, has been offered a new five-year contract, thought to be worth £25,000 a week, at Aston Villa, where Julian Joachim has also signed a new five-year deal.

The Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe, meanwhile, has been told to prove he has fully recovered from a broken fibula before United consider resurrecting a £4 million deal to sign him from Lens.

Foe, 23, claims the move is still on, but United insist they want to make sure he is fully fit before continuing with the deal. "Clearly there was a total change in the circumstances when he broke his leg in training and I don't think we have had an up-to-date prognosis on his condition," he said. "So, for the time being, this is one that's lying on the table. But we will review the position in light of any medical views we get."

Blackburn, who earlier this week let Stuart Ripley go to Southampton for £1.5 million, are expected to sell the reserve striker James Beattie to Saints for £1 million.

Newcastle yesterday blamed agents for trying to drum up an interest in Barcelona's £4 million-rated Oscar Garcia, but the Spanish midfielder is claiming that he has talked over a move with Kenny Dalglish in La Manga.

Dalgish will be back behind his manager's desk next week and, although his club have confirmed an interest in Monaco's £2 million-rated John Collins, they deny an interest in Garcia. But the 25-year-old told the Spanish press: "Newcastle's interest is very flattering. My thought is to stay with Barcelona but the decision may not depend on me."

Fulham have signed John Salako on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling. Salako played for Bolton in their fight for Premiership safety towards the end of last season and Fulham manager Kevin Keegan originally tried to sign the 29-year-old winger for Newcastle from Crystal Palace in the summer of 1995.