Siena close to Maccarone swoop: agent

Middlesbrough striker Massimo Maccarone is set to join Serie A club Siena on a free transfer early next week, according to his agent.

Limited playing time on Teesside has forced Maccarone to seek a return to Italy.

The former Empoli striker has scored only one goal in seven league appearances for the Premiership outfit this season.

“I have just returned from Middlesbrough,” Maccarone’s agent Paolo Fabbri said.

“We have undergone negotiations for the player’s free transfer to Siena. We are awaiting the okay from the Middlesbrough chairman (Steve Gibson) for the deal to be completed and that should arrive on Monday. There is an agreement with Siena and Maccarone could sign a three- to four-year contract with them.”

Middlesbrough paid Empoli a club record £8.15m (€12.5m) for Maccarone in 2002.