Nathaniel Mendez-Laing would prefer to join Middlesbrough than Derby County with the winger hoping to work with Neil Warnock again at the Riverside, as reported by Sky Sports (live blog, 10.46am).
Given that Warnock got the very best out of this power-packed winger at Cardiff City, you can see why Mendez-Laing has his heart set on a move to Teesside.
The 28-year-old free agent was in formidable form throughout the 2017/18 campaign as the unfancied Bluebirds took the Championship by storm and sealed the most surprising of promotions to the Premier League.
Sky claims Derby have expressed their interest in Mendez-Laing but, as it stands, he is holding out for Middlesbrough instead – and a reunion with Warnock.
In theory, the former Rochdale dynamo could be a key cog in an all-new front three at the Riverside.
Promotion-chasing Boro have already snapped up another former Warnock favourite in the shape of Everton misfit Yannick Bolasie, while Bristol City contract rebel Famara Diedhiou could also arrive before tonight’s transfer deadline.
The Northern Echo believes talks between Diedhiou and Middlesbrough were planned for this morning, with Warnock willing to move out Britt Assombalonga and make room for one of the Championship’s most technically skilled centre-forwards.
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