Boro tee up Tuncay deal

Middlesbrough on Wednesday made a major transfer breakthrough by agreeing personal terms with Turkey striker Tuncay Sanli.

The 25-year-old forward, who is out of contract with Fenerbahce, will head for Teesside to undergo a medical next week with a view to completing a free transfer switch to the Barclays Premier League.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb concluded the negotiations in Istanbul on Tuesday as chairman Steve Gibson was promising “spectacular” signings back at home.

Lamb said: “Tuncay will travel to Teesside next week to take a medical. He has agreed personal terms and the deal is a free transfer as the player is out of contract.”

Tuncay, reportedly a target for Manchester City and Birmingham, began his career at home-town club Sakaryaspor before joining Fenerbahce in 2002, and has scored 59 goals in 154 league games for the Istanbul outfit.

He also scored a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester United in 2004.

A central striker who can also play on both flanks, he has 13 goals in 43 internationals and will be seen as a replacement for Mark Viduka, who left Boro for north-east rivals Newcastle last week.

The Teessiders, who have agreed a deal to bring Arsenal’s Jeremie Aliadiere to the Riverside Stadium, are also being linked with Tuncay’s compatriot Gokdeniz Karadeniz, an attacking midfielder from Trabzonspor.