ian1964 10,442 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Jan 1 2009 By Neil Cameron STEVEN FLETCHER could play his last game for Hibs in the Edinburgh derby as Middlesbrough were last night preparing a �£2.5million bid for him. Record Sport can reveal Boro boss Gareth Southgate will send a representative to Tynecastle for one final look at the striker before they make their move. We also understand the Premiership club held a board meeting on Tuesday night to discuss January transfer targets, with Fletcher top of their agenda. Southgate had planned to watch the 21-year-old prior to a bid being tabled and may still wait one more week to do that before Hibs receive an offer. That would be in the Scottish Cup tie at Easter Road a week on Sunday when he will be free as his side face Sunderland the day before. However, that is all a formality as the former England international is keen to land Fletcher. Hibs chief executive Rod Petrie was originally looking for around �£4m for his most valuable player but in the financial climate he will have to accept a lower price of �£2.5m with add-ons. Fletcher has been linked with a string of English clubs with Manchester City and Blackburn, before Paul Ince was sacked, most interested. However, he was most famously tipped for a move to Real Madrid after the Spanish giants had him watched. Meanwhile, Polish keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski has claimed he has agreed a deal to join Hibs. The former Dundee United No.1 says he will move to the SPL club until at least the end of the season. Szamotulski, 32, will provide competition for Yves Ma-Kalambay and Andy McNeil after a recent spell in Israeli football with FC Ashdod. He was hugely popular with fans during his time at Tannadice last season and earned a nickname he is happy to let stick. Szamotulski said: "The Mad Monk is back. It has been agreed I'll join Hibs. Everything was settled by fax over Christmas and I'll spend at least the next six months in Scotland. "I'm pleased and it was never true to say I failed to reach agreement with Hibs because of financial reasons." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/01/01/middlesbrough-set-to-swoop-for-2-5m-hibs-star-steven-fletcher-86908-21008153/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 743 Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Hibs yet again show the rest of Scotland how a youth policy is run. They just keep unearthing potential talent. We should be asking how they do it!! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nokiss 0 Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 The difference is Gribz, they give their youth a chance to prove themselves, albeit, mostly through financial constraints. Nevertheless, you're never going to get good money for good young players who've spent all their time in the reserves. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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