Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock admitted that he made an attempt to sign Celtic’s Boli Bolingoli on loan last week, while speaking to Alan Brazil on talkSPORT (13 August, 9:00am).
From Neil Lennon to Nicola Sturgeon, every man, woman and dog north of the border are queuing up to criticise a £3 million left-back who has put the entire Scottish Premiership season at risk.
Bolingoli failed to inform Celtic of his ill-advised trip to Spain earlier this month and featured in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock while he should have been in the midst of a 14-day quarantine.
Lennon admitted that he was ‘absolutely livid’, when speaking to Sky Sports, while the midweek clash with St Mirren was postponed as a result.
No wonder Warnock is breathing a sigh of relief after Boro made an enquiry for a man who is public enemy number one right now.
“I rang Celtic last week to try and get Bolingoli on loan, good job we didn’t get him!” the former QPR, Sheffield United and Leeds boss says.
“No, I don’t think (we will try and sign him again).”
Even before this rather unseemly episode, Bolingoli was facing an uncertain future at the reigning Scottish Premiership champions.
The Belgian’s three-minute cameo against Killie was his first Scottish Premiership appearance since a disastrous display in the 2-1 home defeat to Old Firm rivals Rangers back in December 2019.
Greg Taylor looks to have made the left-back spot his own in the meantime, channelling his inner-Andy Robertson with two pinpoint assists during the opening day’s 5-1 thrashing of Hamilton Academical.
Middlesbrough will still be in the market for reinforcements on the left-hand side, with George Friend leaving Riverside on a free and Warnock seemingly unconvinced by Hayden Coulson’s ability to thrive at full-back.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
