Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan beats United to Boyd’s signature
KRIS BOYD will put pen to paper on a two-year contract with Middlesbrough later today after completing a medical and agreeing personal terms at Rockliffe Park over the weekend.[LNB] Despite tentative interest from a number of Premier League clubs including Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham, Boyd, who became a free agent at the start of the month, has agreed to drop into the Championship to join Boro.[LNB] The capture of the established Scotland international represents a major coup for Boro boss Gordon Strachan, who is also expected to confirm the £1.4m signing of Charlton Athletic midfielder Nicky Bailey within the next 24 hours.[LNB] Strachan first approached Boyd in January, but the 26- year-old opted to see out the final six months of his contract with Rangers, picking up a second SPL winners' medal in the process.[LNB] Further talks took place at the start of the summer, and while Boyd was offered alternative opportunities to play in the top-flight in England and Turkey, the striker has instead pledged to join Boro.[LNB] He was in the North-East yesterday agreeing personal terms, and is poised to sign a lucrative two-year deal once the results of his medical are confirmed.[LNB] I'm delighted to finally have my future sorted out,[LNB] said Boyd, who scored 101 goals in 143 league appearances for Rangers. I've had a few offers to consider and it's been a case of talking to my family about the positives and negatives of each one.[LNB] Middlesbrough have always been very appealing.[LNB] (Gordon) Strachan has big plans and has made me feel wanted. I first met him in January and he impressed me at that meeting.[LNB] Everything has just about been agreed and I will go through my medical. I don't envisage any problems and I'm looking forward to starting my Boro career.[LNB] The manager is assembling a good squad and we are aiming for promotion back to the Premier League. There will be a pressure to deliver on that front.[LNB] I know how good it feels to win a title. I've won them with Rangers and I want that feeling with Middlesbrough this season.[LNB] Prior to agreeing to join Boro, Boyd turned down an offer of around £2.7m-a-year to join Turkish side Kayserispor, who are managed by former Rangers striker Shota Arveladze.[LNB] His decision to turn his back on Turkey alerted Newcastle, and Magpies officials are understood to have held exploratory talks with Boyd's representatives.[LNB] However, Newcastle are not in a position to offer significantly better financial terms than Boro Boyd's deal at the Riverside is believed to be worth around £25,000-a-week and with Andy Carroll, Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi on the books, Magpies manager Chris Hughton could not guarantee Boyd he would start the season as a first-team regular.[LNB] He will definitely kick off the new campaign as Boro's first-choice marksman however, and his arrival suggests there will be no move for New Zealand international Chris Killen, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the Riverside.[LNB] Boyd could be one of three Boro signings confirmed this week.[LNB] Bailey has agreed the technicalities of his move from Charlton, while Strachan remains hopeful of signing Stephen McManus from Celtic following his successful spell on loan last season.[LNB] The triple swoop has largely been funded by the reduction to the wage bill that accompanied the exit of Emanuel Pogatetz, Jeremie Aliadiere and Chris Riggott at the end of last season.[LNB] Former Middlesbrough trainee and Darlington loanee Nathan Porritt has signed a one-year contract with Portuguese side Olhaenense.[LNB]
