Boro close to McManus deal

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan was today hoping to complete a swoop for a fourth Celtic player as Stephen McManus closed in on a move to Teesside.

The 27-year-old defender is keen to join Barry Robson, Willo Flood and Chris Killen at the Riverside Stadium following their arrivals earlier this month.

Strachan told the Evening Gazette: “It’s well documented that I am a big fan of Stephen’s.

“I have asked him if he wants to come here and he is desperate to come. Now we have to try to do a deal with Celtic.”