SWANSEA DEFENDER ON RADAR
NEW BORO BOSS TARGETS SWANSEA STAR
MIDDLESBROUGH are ready to make a move to bring Swansea defender Kyle Bartley to the Riverside.
New manager Garry Monk takes the reins tomorrow, and is believed to be keen to bring the 26-year-old to Teesside.
Bartley (right) is a player Monk knows well, having worked with him at the Liberty Stadium and at Leeds United last season, where he spent a successful loan spell.
But while Bartley could well welcome the chance to work with Monk (inset) again, Swans boss Paul Clement insists he is part of his plans for next season.
“He’s had a good season, we’ve spoken on the telephone and said well done,” Clement said.
“It’s unusual loan players captaining the side, he’s done well, but from our point of view I’m looking forward to him coming back and working with him. “As far as I’m concerned he’s a Swansea player and he’s staying.” Boro have also been linked with a move for Blackburn centre-half Charlie Mulgrew. The defender started for Scotland against England last night and is thought to want to leave Ewood Park following Rovers’ relegation from the Championship into League One.
The Scot left Celtic last year after six years with the Glasgow giants, but insists he has no regrets over the move – and could be keen on staying south of the border.
Meanwhile Sheffield Wednesday are monitoring Daniel Ayala’s situation, and could be set to test Boro’s resolve on the Spaniard.