Neil Warnock wants ‘unbelievable’ Everton winger Yannick Bolasie at Middlesbrough but, speaking to the Northern Echo, he is already preparing to take the rough with the smooth.
It is fair to say consistency has never been Bolasie’s strong point.
Even during those heady days of 2015 – when he was viewed by many as the most exciting prospect in a Crystal Palace side also containing a young Wilf Zaha – this old-school, chalk-booted winger was equally likely to fire the wildest of shots into row Z as he was to terrorise one of the Premier League’s finest full-backs.
So with Middlesbrough hoping to tie up a deadline day loan deal for Everton’s £28 million forgotten man, Warnock knows that Bolasie is not going to be a ‘7/10’ performer every Saturday.
But, while there will be the odd 3/10 disaster, there will be a few 10/10 masterclasses for good measure.
“What would he bring? Frustration! One minute he’s unbelievable, the next you’re asking, ‘Is he a footballer?’” Warnock exclaimed with a glint in his eye.
“He’s a good lad and I’ve always liked him – but whether it comes off, we’ll see.”
The Liverpool Echo believes that Boro are facing a race against time and there is a nagging feeling that there is simply too much ground to be made up between the two parties before this afternoon’s cut-off point.
Warnock adds that Middlesbrough want a striker too with six targets in their sights, including Stoke City’s Lee Gregory.
Jack Marriott will not be Riverside-bound, however, having sealed a move to Sheffield Wednesday from Derby County instead.
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