Middlesbrough striker Alen Boksic has been linked with a surprise switch to Tottenham.

The Croatian international announced at the weekend he was retiring from the game, despite having five months still to run on his contract.

Middlesbrough admitted on Monday that they were in talks with the player, who is widely thought to be on over �60,000-a-week, about ending his career at the Riverside.

And Boro chief executive Keith Lamb confirmed Spurs had made a late bid for Boksic just before the transfer window closed on Friday

"Spurs asked if we would be interested in transferring Boksic," said Lamb.

"I replied it would not be possible bearing in mind the short time remaining before the deadline closed, while Boksic was in Croatia and he was injured."

Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle, who missed out to the Teessiders in the race to sign Michael Ricketts from Bolton, was hoping to bring the 33-year-old to White Hart Lane to help out their injury crisis.

Tottenham are facing a striker shortage after selling Sergei Rebrov and Les Ferdinand and losing Robbie Keane through injury.

Meanwhile, new signing Kazuyuki Toda appeared in a Spurs shirt for the first time when he lined up for the reserves on Monday.

The Japan international looked sharp as Tottenham's reserves beat Nottingham Forest reserves 2-1.

"I struggled with the pace of the game at first but I got used to it," he said. "I'll get better."