Source: Northern_Echo
Last-ditch bid to get Conway
MIDDLESBROUGH officials will hold a last-ditch round of talks with their counterparts at Dundee United this morning in an attempt to finally make a breakthrough in their long-running pursuit of Craig Conway.[LNB] While the transfer window closes at 6pm today, Boro's Championship status means they could strike a loan deal any time next month, but boss Gordon Strachan is keen to sign the winger permanently.[LNB] However, despite weeks of discussions, the two parties remain some distance apart in their valuations of Conway.[LNB] Boro have tabled a £600,000 offer, but while Dundee United have dropped their initial price tag of £1.2m slightly, the Scottish side continue to demand a seven-figure fee for the 25-year-old.[LNB] Crucially, Conway has continued to perform effectively at Tannadice despite being fully aware of Boro's longstanding interest.[LNB] The midfielder played in Dundee United's 1-1 draw with Hearts at the weekend, and officials at the Scottish club are confident he will continue to give his all if Boro's final offer is rejected this morning.[LNB] Strachan is desperate to bolster his midfield options, having lost Rhys Williams, Willo Flood and Kevin Thomson to long-term injuries, and seen summer signing Tarmo Kink fail to finish Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Barnsley.[LNB] However, with the Scotsman having shelled out about £6m in transfer fees this summer, Boro chairman Steve Gibson is demanding he operates to a strict budget in the final hours of the window.[LNB] As well as complicating the capture of Conway, Gibson's refusal to pay over the odds for anybody also looks like scuppering Boro's hopes of landing Rochdale centre-half Craig Dawson.[LNB] The Teessiders tabled a £400,000 offer for Dawson at the start of the summer, but despite the 20-year-old defender submitting two separate transfer requests, his League One employers have refused to lower their £1m asking price.[LNB] With Boro also digging their heels in and refusing to increase their bid, a deadlineday move appears increasingly unlikely.[LNB] There will be some movement ahead of today's deadline, with Mido and Didier Digard expected to formally complete loan moves away from the North-East.[LNB] Mido will rejoin his former employers Ajax until the end of the season, a move that will effectively bring his Boro career to an end as his current contract is due to expire next June. Digard will rejoin Nice, the club he played for last season, on another season-long loan.[LNB]
