Get ready to change your avatar Morris...

[sirpiechucker]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_6197000,00.html

Skysports.com understands Middlesbrough are closing in on the signing of S****horpe star Gary Hooper.

Hooper has found himself one of the most sought-after transfer targets this summer after impressing at Glanford Park over the last few seasons.

The likes of Celtic, Wigan and Derby have all been credited with an interest in Hooper, but Middlesbrough are hoping to win the race for his signature by luring him to Teesside.

Boro boss Gordon Strachan is thought to be a big admirer of Hooper and he has made him one of his top targets this summer.

Scuthorpe are resigned to losing Hooper with the player having just a year to run on his contract and it is understood Boro have met their valuation for the forward.

Strachan is keen to bolster his attacking options and he is hopeful of finalising a deal for Hooper.

[ollyhoops]

£2.5m is probably about right for him in todays market value.

[Morris]

B*llocks.

[QPRJACK123]

Why Middleborough there going knowhere next season!

[vblockranger]

Why Middleborough there going knowhere next season!

[rangersroar]

I find it hard to believe that Warnock is not interested in him. If I was Warnock I would be begging the board for the meney to sign him. Surely they can see how good a player he is, and could be the difference between us gaining automatic promotion or a place in the lottery that is the play-offs.

[sirpiechucker]

Middlesbrough still have parachute payments so may have been able to offer him a better deal than us. Warnock might also not want to play a system which involves this type of player.

[Bigdave]

Its a shame because i reckon he'd of been a big favourite down at the Rangers but this once again boils down to the fact that Briatore and co wanted to do things on the cheap. We could of got him a year or so ago if they'd up their offer for him but no no no, tight b ollox Flabio thought everyone owed him a favour and sell him players for peanuts.

[hemelhoop]

Shame could have been a signing.Another one we have lost out on for trying to do things on the cheap.If you want quality you have to pay for it.

[MYU]

As Sirpie says in his post "Middlesbrough still have parachute payments " and we don't.

[qpr-buzsaky]

The owners have said they want us in the premiership, warnock has said he is "so excited" and yet we can't match £2.5 million. How can ipswich bid £4.2million for Chopra then?

[rangersroar]

Middlesbrough still have parachute payments so may have been able to offer him a better deal than us. Warnock might also not want to play a system which involves this type of player.

What, a player that scores goals ? What system can't cater for that ?

[rangersroar]

As Sirpie says in his post "Middlesbrough still have parachute payments " and we don't.

I would imagine their wage bill is higher than ours, so the parachute money will be funding that as well.

[dpmd]

As Sirpie says in his post "Middlesbrough still have parachute payments " and we don't.

Yes and if we don't go up next season and keep doing things on the cheap when the parachute payments start going up what chance will we ever have of getting back to the promised land?

[MYU]

I agree with you all but our current board and NW should know all this already.

Thay might have agreed terms with other players for July, we don't know?