Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is ready to bid for Swansea's goal machine Jason Scotland - whether his club beats the drop or not.
The Boro chief sent top spy Gordon McQueen to watch Scotland notch his 24th goal of a remarkable Championship campaign at Barnsley on Easter Monday.
And as Southgate has had problems finding a natural finisher, with Brazilian Afonso Alves an expensive flop, he plans to bring in the attacker whether Boro are in the Premier League or have been relegated.
Scotland, 30, has proved his worth after a meandering route to the Football League and his scoring powers have peaked since joining the Swans in May 2007.
Swansea hope to keep him by sneaking into the play-offs and going up, but if they fail they may lose the player.