Boro’s £1m move for Adomah lifts spirits

Boro, whose incoming transfer activity has been ponderous so far in a frustrating summer, are desperate for a breakthrough of significance, with money to facilitate a £1m bid for the 25-year-old freed by the summer departures of big-earning Nicky Bailey, Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald among others.

The latter has joined Millwall after Boro reached agreement on a severance package with the Australian, who had a year still to run on his lucrative deal, reportedly having earned in the region of £30,000 per week.

Mowbray is also hoping to add a defender in time for the clash with City, with former Leeds United full-back Frazer Richardson, who has been training with Boro for the last few weeks, set to sign a short-term deal following his release from Southampton.

The incoming deal to sign Adomah will to set pulses racing among the Boro faithful, with the winger – also linked with Wigan this summer – one of the few players to shine in a tough campaign for the Robins last term, which culminated in relegation.

The West Country outfit had been keen on young Boro marksman Curtis Main being part of any prospective deal involving Adomah, with Sean O’Driscoll seeking to bring him in on loan.

But with their striker numbers light following the exits of McDonald and Ishmael Miller, the Teessiders are unwilling to part company with Main.

On a difficult summer on the recruitment front, Mowbray said: “We’re working very hard behind the scenes. Hopefully, we’ll have a couple more in by Saturday.

“We needed to create some space on the wage bill and we’ve done that now. Hopefully, the players that come in will have a positive influence on the team and help make us stronger.”

Today’s opponents, Nigel Pearson’s Leicester, have an outstanding recent record against the Teessiders, who have seen their colours lowered by them in their last 10 meetings.

The Riverside is also somewhat of a lucky ground for the Foxes, who have lost just once in 10 matches there, winning five of them.