UCD starlet Neil Farrugia reportedly turned down QPR and had a trial at Manchester City – but is he heading to England with Championship outfit Boro?
New Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate is keen to make highly-rated Irish winger Neil Farrugia his first signing at the Riverside, according to the Irish Mirror.
The 39-year-old, who had two spells at Boro during his playing days, has taken his first steps into management with the North East outfit, replacing Tony Pulis in the dugout after spending the last couple of seasons as the club’s first team coach.
And with Stewart Downing, John Obi Mikel, Jordan Hugill and Co all bidding farewell, Woodgate has been thrown in at the deep end with the former England centre-back tasked with replacing a number of key players.
His first signing, however, could be a little known attacker who plays for UCD in the League of Ireland.
20-year-old Farrugia, who was forced to pull out of the Toulon Tournament through injury, is one of Ireland’s biggest talents and scored once in 11 first-team games for UCD last season.
According to The Independent, he had a trial at Manchester City last summer, one year after turning down a move to Queens Park Rangers. But is Farrugia finally set to make the move to England with Middlesbrough?
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