Fresh Hope for Alves

BORO and Afonso Alves were awarded fresh hopes, today, that a deal can be made to bring the Brazilian to the Riverside within the next nine days.

Alves is locked in a sticky situation after the Dutch FA ruled, last week, that the player has, in fact, entered into two separate contract agreements meaning that the player, contractually, belongs to both Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar, the other Dutch club trying to sign him.

BORO had agreed personal terms with Alves, who expressed that he wants to play for neither Dutch club and does wish to seal his move to BORO. BORO appear to have also agreed a fee with Heerenveen for Alves, amidst the reports from AZ claiming that the player is legally theirs.

But this week Alves' lawyer, Pim de Vos, has delivered a claim to the Dutch FA stating that Alevs' supposed contract with AZ is not legally binding.


"The Fifa and Uefa regulations write that at the signing of a contract agents with a licence and a lawyer have to be present. That hasn't been the case."

Alves' club Heerenveen also refused to finalise the deal by signing the contract, which Alves agreed in December.

The Dutch FA will meet again tomorrow to resolve the situation with both Gareth Southgate and Alves, himself, hoping that the ruling will see the Brazilian striker arrive in the Premiership before the end of the transfer window.

Photos & Quotes courtesy of Google (images.google.com) & SkySports (www.skysports.com/football)