Saints fail with Maccarone bid

Massimo Maccarone has turned down a move to Southampton, skysports.com can reveal.

The Italian international spent last season on loan at Parma and Siena, and Middlesbrough are happy for him to spend next term away from Teesside.

However, talks with Siena have broken down and a deal does not look close as the Tuscan outfit are refusing to pay Maccarone's entire salary.

Southampton were alerted to the fact that Maccarone's move to Siena had stalled and enquired about taking him on a season-long loan.

Boro were happy with the deal, but Maccarone has rejected the move as he is not willing to drop down to The Championship.

"Massimo will not be moving to Southampton," his agent Paolo Fabbri told skysports.com.

"Next season, he will either be playing for Middlesbrough or Siena.

"He has an offer to play in Serie A, so why would he want to drop down to the First Division?

"Massimo has made it clear, and has informed Keith Lamb [Boro chief executive], that he wants his future sorting out.

"He will return to Middlesbrough on Monday or Tuesday if nothing is done with Siena.

"Massimo does not want to play for any other English club, other than Middlsbrough."

Fabbri also denied Italian reports that Boro and Maccarone could mutually agree to a contract termination.

"Massimo has every intention of seeing out his contract, that is his desire," he added.

"He does not want to cancel anything with Middlesbrough and he still has some hope of returning and doing well."