Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan lands Bailey but McManus still with Celtic
GORDON STRACHAN wants to follow up the arrival of Nicky Bailey by making Stephen McManus' switch to Middlesbrough a permanent one.[LNB] McManus' loan deal expires today and he remains on the Celtic pay-roll, but Strachan maintains Boro are determined to push through a deal for the £2.5m rated centreback.[LNB] Stephen wants to be here,[LNB] said Strachan. We will make that happen one way or another.[LNB] All parties want it to work so there will be a point when it does work. Whether that point is tomorrow, the next day, we are hoping all parties will see sense.[LNB] Boro are unlikely to spend £2.5m on a defender, however highly they rate him. It looks increasingly likely that Celtic will have to budge on their demands.[LNB] An initial £1.5m potentially rising to £2.5m looks likely.[LNB] Bailey passed his medical at Rockliffe Park yesterday and will sign in a £1.4m deal.[LNB] Strachan is determined not to discuss other potential signings, but outlined his reasons for recruiting a midfielder who scored 13 goals in League One last season.[LNB] Bailey has had a medical and that will be him here,[LNB] said Strachan, who remains keen on acquiring Rangers striker Kris Boyd.[LNB] I spoke to him and his wife, but nobody could do the contract because Keith Lamb is in South Africa.[LNB] He's a good player. What you need is drive, character, self-motivation and he has got all of those. We need players that can play in any games that come up.[LNB] Bailey is not allowed to train with Boro until either Charlton grant permission or his contract is signed.[LNB] Mido and Marvin Emnes who will both move on this summer if a club comes forward were at Rockliffe Park, although Didier Digard is not officially due back until tomorrow when his loan with Nice expires.[LNB] Sunderland are believed to have revived a deal for Egyptian full-back Ahmad Al- Muhammadi, amid fears over the weekend that the agreement was in jeopardy.[LNB] His club ENPPI have agreed for Sunderland to pay £500,000 up front as a loan fee for the season.[LNB] It is believed to be a deal agreed with a view to completing a permanent, £2m transfer, which would also include a 15 per cent sell-on clause if Sunderland did land their man.[LNB] Newcastle and Boro target Boyd, meanwhile, is expected to travel to Turkey for discussions over a move to Kayserispor if he decides against a move to either St James' Park or the Riverside Stadium.[LNB] The Turkish club are believed to be offering wages of £50,000-a-week and Kayserispor boss Shota Arveladze, a former Rangers striker, said: We offered him a private jet to travel here but only if he signs. If he is just travelling for talks, it's too expensive.''[LNB]
