by Darlo Royal »
30 Jan 2009 10:30
From this morning's Northern Echo
Boro homing in on a £5m deal for Reading’s Harper
10:18am Friday 30th January 2009
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By Scott Wilson »
MIDDLESBROUGH have moved a major step closer to the capture of James Harper after Reading agreed a fee for the midfielder.
Harper still has to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms at Boro’s Rockliffe Park training ground, but weeks of patient negotiations have finally produced a breakthrough.
Reading officials have accepted an initial payment of around £2.5m, a fee that could eventually almost double depending on appearances and achievements.
Having missed out on Ben Watson last weekend despite agreeing a fee with Crystal Palace, Boro boss Gareth Southgate will be taking nothing for granted until Harper’s signature is secure.
The 28-year-old, who has featured in 25 of Reading’s 29 Championship matches this season, came close to moving to the Riverside last summer, only for the Royals to move the goalposts in terms of the fee they were willing to accept.
Reading’s stance has softened considerably since, with the realities of life in the Championship forcing them to reduce their asking price.
As an energetic central midfielder, Harper will bolster an area of the field that has caused problems to Boro all season.
Neither George Boateng nor Lee Cattermole was adequately replaced in the summer, and centre-half Matthew Bates was forced to play as an unorthodox holding midfielder at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Southgate has been tracking Harper for the best part of two seasons, but the Boro boss will not be sacrificing any of his current squad in order to sign the former Arsenal trainee.