Digard anger at stalled Boro deal

Middlesbrough are having to remain patient in their pursuit of Frenchman Didier Digard, after hitting a major snag.

The furious 21-year-old has blasted current club Paris St Germain for stalling over a €5m deal – around £4m – which was thrashed out in principle a fortnight ago.

Digard has revealed the stumbling block is PSG’s insistence that the fee be paid up front rather than in two instalments.

He told L’Equipe: “The story is simple. Middlesbrough are going to pay the five million Euros asked for by Paris St Germain.

“Normally, a transfer is paid in two instalments – so Middlesbrough pay €2.5m now and the other half later.

“But Paris need liquid assets. Paris want the five million euros immediately, so I am irritated.

“It has taken too long. I am trying to meet up with the board, but they aren’t daring to make a decision.

“Quite simply, they are all incompetent.”

Digard’s outburst is unlikely to ease his passage to the Barclays Premier League, and his criticism of new PSG president Charles Villeneuve was even more scathing.

He said: “When I think that he has even refused to meet the Middlesbrough chairman, who came over especially to sort this problem out ... M Villeneuve prefers to send someone else to talk.

“I am going mad. This club is doing my head in. I can’t stay.”

Despite the hitch, Boro are hoping to conclude the deal for the former Le Havre player, who joined PSG only last summer, before manager Gareth Southgate and his squad return for pre-season training next Monday.

Digard arrived in Paris with a blossoming reputation – but because of injury, he struggled to make an impact in the last campaign.

Southgate moved to quickly to register his interest, with a series of other suitors monitoring the situation, and had hoped to make a decisive move by now.

Chief executive Keith Lamb forecast last week that two or three new faces would be on board by the start of pre-season training.

As well as Digard, Boro are understood to be closing in on other targets as they attempt to strengthen their midfield resources.

Reading’s James Harper and Sparta Rotterdam’s Marvin Emnes are also in Southgate’s sights, although proceedings are perhaps not so far advanced.

The Teessiders and the Royals are thought to be yet to reach common ground over Harper’s valuation – while Emnes could be prised away from Sparta after a proposed move to Feyenoord broke down over the fee.

Reports have suggested a bid of £2.75m could be enough to capture the 20-year-old Dutchman, who has played as both a striker and a right-winger.

Meanwhile, Boro have confirmed that their Algarve Challenge Cup clash with Scottish champions Celtic in Faro on Tuesday July 22 will be screened live by Setanta Sports.