Former Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng, who spent the latter stages of the week training with the Blues, is a target of his one-time Boro boss Steve McClaren and Nottingham Forest, according to one of this morning’s tabloids. On Thursday TWTD revealed that the 35-year-old ex-Feyenoord, Coventry, Hull City and Aston Villa man had joined Town for their pre-season preparations.
We understand that Boateng, a free agent having left Greek side Skoda Xanthi at the end of 2010/11, has arranged similar spells training with a number of sides as he looks for a new club for the season ahead.
McClaren is said to be looking to recruit various members of the Middlesbrough side with which he won the 2004 League Cup and reached the final of the 2006 UEFA Cup, including Boateng, Bolo Zenden and Jonathan Greening, while he is claimed to want Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to join his coaching staff.
Elsewhere in this morning’s papers, as TWTD reported on Friday, former Birmingham midfielder Lee Bowyer is expected at Portman Road on Monday to sign a two-year deal with Town once he has passed a medical.
Meanwhile, the Blues squad flew out to Holland for their two-game pre-season tour this morning.
Young left-back Joe Whight, who recently signed a two-year professional deal with the club, has revealed on Twitter that he isn't amongst the 30 players and staff to have made the trip.
The 17-year-old is likely to be in the reserves side whose pre-season friendly programme begins at Haverhill Rovers on Wednesday. A full list of Town's pre-season fixtures can be found here.