Middlesbrough FC transfer news: Bolton take ex-striker on loan as Boro look to pile on more QPR misery

Middlesbrough will look to heap more misery on Steve McClaren’s QPR as the race for Championship promotion hots up.

Boro, fresh from their impressive 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers last weekend, host struggling QPR at the Riverside tomorrow (3pm).

Ex-Newcastle and England boss McClaren will be aiming to overturn a dire run of form when they head to Teesside.

QPR face Boro on the back of six league defeats on the bounce, a far cry from their impressive form in December.

Less than a couple of months ago, Rangers had moved to within two points of the top six but are now languishing in 18th in the Championship.

And Tony Pulis will be aiming to add to that losing run, with the race for promotion fierce.

Boro are fifth, seven points off the top two and just three clear of Derby County in seventh, a place outside the play-off positions.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough loanee Rajiv van La Parra has admitted he turned down the chance to join Leeds United on loan.

The 27-year-old has struggled for game time since moving to the Riverside Stadium, having made just one start for Boro since signing a half-season loan deal from Huddersfield Town.

That solitary start came in the FA Cup, with van La Parra otherwise restricted to cameo appearances from the bench.

But he wasn’t short of offers in the January transfer window, with several clubs thought to be keen on taking the Dutch star on loan after he found first team opportunities limited at the Terriers.

And, in an interview with ELF Voetbal in his homeland, van La Parra admitted that Leeds United had approached him.

However, he felt the interest from Boro was more ‘concrete’ - so chose to move to the Riverside Stadium.

“I indicated that I wanted to go to a club where I could go for minutes,” he said.

“Middlesbrough and Leeds United immediately reported to my agent.

“Middlesbrough’s (interest) was more concrete than Leeds. They did everything to get me in.

“I immediately got a good feeling. I also wanted to stay in England.

“I did not hear anything from the Premier League, but I actually like to fight for the prizes again.“

* Bolton Wanderers are taking a look at former Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers striker Marvin Emnes, 30.

The forward has been on the lookout for a new club since leaving Vancouver Whitecaps at the end of the MLS season and is on trial at Bolton.