Steve Gibson turns down £50m bid for half stake in Middlesbrough

MIDDLESBROUGH owner Steve Gibson has rejected a takeover attempt by a Chinese-American billionaire consortium after they made a formal offer following talks in the North East.

Chinese businessman and Nice owner Chien Lee – who also made an abortive move to purchase Hull City in the autumn -– American former banker Paul Conway and British business adviser Alexander Jarvis were guests of the club at two Premier League matches earlier this season and had dinner with Gibson and his consultant Peter Kenyon at Rockliffe Hall on October 16.

But when an offer of around £50m was subsequently made for a 50 per cent stake, Gibson dismissed the bid outright.

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The Boro chief has since reiterated that he has no intention to sell his boyhood club, which he helped save from liquidation in 1986.

Leeds United midfielder Toumani Diagouraga has joined Championship rivals Ipswich on loan for the rest of the season.

Rotherham United were also interested in the 29-year-old, who has elected to move to Suffolk. The deal does not include an option for a permanent switch.

The former Brentford player – who joined United for £575,000 a year ago – was told in the first month of this season that he was not part of Leeds head coach Garry Monk’s plans at Elland Road.

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Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy said: “He was the one who Brentford had in that really good team that got in the play-offs (in 2015). I am delighted to get him.”

Bradford City manager Stuart McCall has allayed fears that veteran defender Matthew Kilgallon could be out for an extended spell after failing awkwardly on his shoulder in the weekend draw against Millwall.

Scans have revealed no dislocation for the ex-Leeds United and Sheffield United centre-half.

Howeber, he will definitely miss tonight’s scheduled Checkatrade Trophy tie at Oxford United.

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McCall said: “We are hopeful that it is decent news for Killa because he had two x-rays on Saturday and they did not show any dislocation.

“That is clearly good news as it would probably have ruled him out for the season if he’d needed an operation.

“He is still in a lot of discomfort with the shoulder, but he says he is a quick healer.”