Stephen McManus signs for Boro from Celtic on three-year deal

Middlesbrough have completed the signing of the former Celtic captain Stephen McManus on a three‑year deal following his successful loan period at the Riverside last season. Boro, who have paid around £1.5m for McManus, are also close to agreeing a £2m deal for the Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson. Gordon Strachan, Boro's manager, and his assistant, Gary McAllister, have spent the summer rebuilding the Championship side, imbuing them with a distinctly tartan hue. Thomson will be the eighth former Scottish Premier League player – and seventh from the Old Firm – the former Celtic manager has recruited since succeeding Gareth Southgate last autumn. Strachan now appears to have turned his attention south of Hadrian's Wall and is extremely keen to pair last week's capture from Scotland, Kris Boyd, with the Scunthorpe United striker Gary Hooper. The Rochdale centre‑half Craig Dawson also remains on Boro's radar.