Middlesbrough transfer news (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Middlesbrough transfer news (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Middlesbrough transfer news (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Ex-Middlesbrough boss among favourites for Championship job, Everton face competition for lethal striker

Middlesbrough's poor run of form continued last weekend, when Neil Warnock's side were taken apart by a clinical Brentford side at the Riverside Stadium, with star man Ivan Toney starring for the Bees once again.

Speaking to the Hartlepool Mail after the loss, Boro's boss did have some good news to report, revealing that key defender Dael Fry is close to making his return. Warnock claimed: "Dael isn't far away. He is quite confident he'll be back next week.

"I'm no expert but there's bits of blood around it (the calf injury) but nothing damaging in the actual muscle. So, he should have a good chance for next week, I hope."

Next up, Boro will look to claim their first win in four matches this weekend, when they take on Wayne Rooney's Derby County at Pride Park on Saturday afternoon.

Middlesbrough strode to a 3-0 win over the Rams when they last met, back in November, and Boro will be desperate to do the double of the relegation battling side as they look to bridge the five-point gap between them and the play-off places.

Here's our round-up of all the latest news and transfer talk, involving Middlesbrough and a number of their divisional rivals.