The Teessiders made enquiries about the 26-year-old frontman during the summer, but were put off by the Spaniards' £12m valuation.

But they have been keeping tabs on him ever since and with goals currently at a premium as they battle to avoid the drop to Division One they now appear ready to plunge into the transfer market once again.

The club were saying nothing on the matter short of their usual line of: "It's just speculation and we never comment on transfer speculation."

However, just last week coach Terry Venables admitted the Barcelona-born player was one he and Robson had discussed.

"We are looking at a lot of players but we're not in a rush if they're not available or not quite what we want," said Venables.

"We've mentioned Dani but it's not gone any further than that at the moment. But we have mentioned Dani."

The player - full name Daniel Lora Garcia - began his senior career at Real Madrid but found his feet in Spanish football during a two-year loan spell at Real Zaragoza.

He returned to Madrid for one season but then won a £1.6million move to Real Mallorca, where he scored 12 times in 36 league games, in 1998 before Barca pounced with a £10million bid a year later.

But the 6ft 2in hitman appears to be surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp and although he has four international caps to his name he is not in Jose Antonio Camacho's squad for tonight's friendly against England at Villa Park.

However, even if the Spanish side do accept a bid from Boro, Robson and his colleagues could well have a job on their hands to persuade Dani to head for Teesside.

The club currently lie just one place and a single point above the Premiership drop zone and are facing a battle for survival over the next three months.

That is hardly a promising prospect for a man who is held in high regard in his own country, although Robson at least has a couple of good cards to play.

A move to the Riverside Stadium would see Dani join forces with Croatian Alen Boksic who, when fit, has been in excellent form.

The problem has been that he has largely lacked support, with Hamilton Ricard struggling for goals, Brian Deane playing only a peripheral role and Joseph Job, Andy Campbell, Carlos Marinelli and Noel Whelan all troubled by injury at various points.

In addition Robson could also point to his success in attracting World Cup winner Christian Karembeu to the north-east and although it has taken him time to settle into the English game, he is now starting to show good form.