Middlesbrough are one of several clubs on the hunt for a new manager in this country at the moment after Tony Pulis left Teesside.

Boro fans, on the whole, appeared rather pleased with the development, too, with them getting tired of the style of play the former Stoke and West Brom man was employing.

It seems reasonable to assume that many would like a forward-thinking, expansive manager to come in and change things up, then, and the rumours around the club have kicked on with several names linked.

One of the more interesting stories to come about of late, though, suggests that former Argentina great Gabriel Batistuta would be interested in the job.

The Hartlepool Mail has revealed the obviously surprising news and such an arrival would really cause a stir.

Boro have had successful flirtations with big names before. Think Fabrizio Ravenelli or Juninho among others; the temptation to go down that route again, this time in the dugout, has to be there.

Indeed, financially it could boost the club. Not in terms of shirt signings but in terms of ticket sales, merchandise and even player pulling power - could surprise targets become more attainable?

Tempting indeed, but Boro need not take such a risk - as much as many would love to see him at the club.

Financially, they are more than sound without his influence. They have a strong set-up in the boardroom and good players that just need a manager who knows what it takes to get out of this league.

It's no shock as to why Boro have been tipped for promotion ever since dropping out of the Premier League - they have all the hallmarks of a club stable enough to bounce back quickly.

Ideally, then, they want to be looking at either a manager who knows the league well and can play the football the fans want - the Slavisa Jokanovic's of this world.

Or, they want a man that knows the club and the players already, but is capable of getting them over that line where Pulis failed. Jonathan Woodgate may well offer that, and Aitor Karanka surely does too.

Batistuta would be great fun, but Boro can have that as well as a more likely shot of promotion if they look elsewhere.