By Stuart Roach BBC Sport Online

Benni McCarthy's agent says the South African striker still yearns for a move to the Premiership, but insists a January transfer window move looks highly unlikely.

The Celta Vigo forward was linked with a move to Middlesbrough in the summer and has previously been tipped to join Aston Villa.

But both deals fell through in the advanced stages of negotiations.

Middlesbrough blamed agent Rob Moore for the collapse of McCarthy's Riverside switch, citing work permit complications.

But Moore hit back, telling BBC Sport Online that Boro preferred young Italian striker Massimo Maccarone.

"The Middlesbrough move did not fall down because of a work permit - they pulled out of the deal in favour of Maccarone," he said.

Benni doesn't hold his breath anymore McCarthy's agent Rob Moore

"The Friday before the Saturday World Cup match between South Africa and Slovenia, I had a talk with Middlesbrough on the player's terms but then on the Monday they pulled out of the deal.

"You could say we are interested in resurrecting it and they told us as much too.

"The players terms were all agreed upon so everyone knows where they stand there.

"The transfer fee may see an alteration downwards in Middlesbrough's favour as Benni now only has a year-and-a-half left on his Celta Vigo contract.

"The factors point in Middlesbrough's favour if they want to resurrect but I have been told they don't."

McCarthy feature prominently for South Africa at the World Cup

Charlton have also been linked with a move for the South African striker, but Moore says a move to England is unlikely in the latest window of transfer opportunity.

"To be quite honest, there have been so many false dawns surrounding a move to England that Benni doesn't hold his breath any more," he added.

"He would like to move to England

"The frustrating thing is when you see the players that some English clubs sign for the amounts of money they would have to pay for McCarthy.

"With the moves that have potentially fallen through, the players ahead of him were Juan Pablo Angel and Bosco Balaban of Aston Villa and Maccarone at Middlesbrough.

"It is obviously frustrating for Benni and he doesn't understand what is going on."