In-Demand Striker Content At Atletico Madrid

FORMER Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has handed would-be suitors a blow by claiming he will stay with Atletico Madrid for at least another year.

Middlesbrough and Tottenham have both been strongly linked with the much-coveted Dutch forward who moved to Spain in a £12m deal last summer, but their efforts to secure his return to Britain now look destined to come to nothing.

''I have three years left on my contract and I am going to be here next season,'' he told Spanish sports newspaper Marca. ''I am happy in Spain and with Atletico. I also want to play here to be able to fight for a place in my country's Euro 2000 squad, but that will be difficult because there are many good forwards.''