Championship boss brands January window a 'shambles' after failed Middlesbrough deal

Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede was close to leaving the club in January

The 30-year-old was one of Harris' top targets and agreed a deadline day deal with Boro to loan Gestede for the remainder of the season.

However, the Benin international rejected a move to London - expressing his desire to fight for his place at the Riverside stadium.

And his decision to knock back an offer from Millwall, 20th in the Championship table, left boss Harris seething.

"We were very close," said the 41-year-old when asked how close he was to signing a striker.

"There was a stage where I thought one was done. In fact, I thought more than one was done.

"What I don’t understand is there are a lot of players that decide to stay at clubs where they are clearly not going to play. That’s not me that, I wanted to play. I wanted to compete.

"But it was difficult. You saw the lack of action. It was not a bad thing for me. It was not a bad thing that there was a lack of action on deadline day, because it stopped the build-up to it, the flurry of transfers and things like that. It was the least money that has been spent for a long time.

"I am pleased. The window is a shambles, it needs to change. I have said that before. So, I think we saw a lot of clubs try and do business and couldn’t. We were just one of probably a dozen or so that tried on deadline day in the Championship and couldn’t."

Gestede is hoping to bounce back from a torrid 12 months blighted with injuries and begin to challenge Jordan Hugill and Britt Assombalonga for a first-team spot.

The former Aston Villa last appeared for Boro in the Championship against Preston North End last year, however started in the FA Cup win over Peterborough United last month.

Boro travel to League Two side Newport County tomorrow evening in the FA Cup fourth round replay. Gestede is likely to be in contention.