Middlesbrough defender a target for French club FC Nantes as new assistant named

Middlesbrough full-back Fabio is a target for French club FC Nantes.
Fabio, pictured playing for Middlesbrough last season.Fabio, pictured playing for Middlesbrough last season.
Fabio, pictured playing for Middlesbrough last season.

Sources in France have indicated the Brazilian defender is high on their wanted list, with the club close to making a €2m move.

Fabio is out of favour at the Riverside and there is the prospect of a three-year deal on the table at Nantes in a bid to lure him.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fabio is a versatile defender who made 23 appearances for the club last season but he has slipped down the pecking order since Tony Pulis arrived.

Earlier this summer, Boro, did however, activate a clause to extend his contract by a further year. He joined Boro from Cardiff City in August 2016.

Meanwhile, Boro have confirmed Sam Ellis has joined the club as Tony Pulis' new assistant manager.

The vastly-experienced Lancastrian takes over from David Kemp, who fulfilled the role last season on a short-term basis, following the arrival of Pulis in January.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ellis has a long-standing relationship with Pulis, the pair first worked together at Stoke City in 2006.

He was in the dugout for the pre-season friendly against Spennymoor Town on Tuesday.

A Boro statement read: "Ellis brings over five decades worth of experience, having first started out as a player with Sheffield Wednesday in 1964. He made over 500 career appearances as a player before moving into management in the 1980s with Blackpool, Bury, and Lincoln City.

"As an assistant, he worked with Peter Reid at Manchester City, Stan Ternent at Burnley, and was at Leeds with Kevin Blackwell when the club reached the Championship Play-Off final in 2006.

"The club would like to formally welcome Sam and also thank Dave Kemp for all his hard work last season and wish him all the best on his retirement in the USA."