Source: Northern_Echo
Boro locked in talks with Ajax over Mido switch
MIDDLESBROUGH were last night still negotiating with Ajax over the proposed transfer of Egyptian striker Mido after premature claims a deal has been struck between the two clubs.[LNB] Boro officials are privately insisting no agreement has been reached with their Dutch counterparts, despite counter-claims from Amsterdam yesterday that everything was in place.[LNB] Reports in Holland, backed up by comments from Ajax boss Martin Jol, suggested Mido had completed his move to one of his former clubs after days of discussions.[LNB] Jol, who will stay with Ajax after turning his back on the chance to take over at Fulham, thinks he has followed up the signing of AZ Alkmaar's Mounir El Hamdaoui with Mido.[LNB] Mounir is what we needed,[LNB] said Jol. He is able to make this Ajax team better.[LNB] Mido's a great guy to have here. We had no options up front but now we have two.[LNB] The former Tottenham and Ajax striker has not been at Middlesbrough's Rockliffe Park training base for a few days in the hope of finding a suitable ending to his troubled career on Teesside.[LNB] Despite reaching an agreement over the personal terms he would be handed at the Amsterdam Arena, however, Middlesbrough are insisting the two clubs remain some way apart over the terms of the transfer.[LNB] Mido has a year remaining on his contract believed to be worth around £50,000-aweek and it has been mooted that Ajax have been looking to strike either a pay-as-you-play deal or secure a loan arrangement with Boro.[LNB] It would be perfect for manager Gordon Strachan if Middlesbrough can convince Ajax to pay more than £1m for a forward who has struggled for form and fitness since his £6m switch from Tottenham in 2007.[LNB] But whatever agreement is reached Strachan's arm will be strengthened as he looks to add another winger to his ranks, namely Dundee United's Craig Conway, even though he is close to adding Hungarian wide-man Tarmo Kink.[LNB] Middlesbrough have agreed a deal worth around £400,000 with Gyori ETO for Kink and his employers are hoping a deal will be concluded sooner rather than later.[LNB] Gyori face Montpellier in a Europa League qualifier tomorrow and do not want to name him in their European squad if he is going to depart.[LNB] The 24-year-old was on Teesside at the end of last week when he played in a behind- closed-doors friendly before passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.[LNB] Kink said: It would be a forward step for me if I could sign in England. The conditions are great. I passed a medical but I can't say more about it until I sign the contract.[LNB] If the terms are finalised quickly Kink will fly out to Germany to join up with a 20- man squad which arrived last night ahead of tonight's friendly with Saschin Leipzig.[LNB]
