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Socceroos striker Scott McDonald appears to be on his way to English Championship side Middlesbrough to reunite with former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan.
Several reports in England and Scotland say the diminutive Celtic frontman is on the verge of agreeing personal terms after the two clubs settled on a transfer fee, reportedly around 4 million pounds ($A7.26 million).
With the summer transfer window due to shut at 5pm on Monday in the United Kingdom (0400 Tues AEDT), McDonald’s future will finally be settled after speculation as to whether he will stay at Celtic Park.
Premier League clubs West Ham or Wigan could still make a late swoop for his signature, while Celtic manager Tony Mowbray insists the striker still has a future with the club.
The 26-year-old has scored 65 times in 126 appearances for the Hoops but his game time and form have suffered slightly since Mowbray took over as manager this season.
Mowbray admitted this week there was interest in McDonald but said he would still be happy to keep him at the club.
But with the manager involved in negotiations to get several new players to Celtic Park, including a loan move for Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara, speculation has intensified the Australian will leave the club he joined from Motherwell in 2007.
McDonald, currently recovering from hernia surgery, would follow former Celtic teammates Barry Robson, Willo Flood, Stephen McManus and Chris Killen in heading to the Riverside Stadium to rejoin Strachan during the transfer window.
He would also link up with fellow Socceroos Rhys Williams and Brad Jones at the club, which is a former home of Socceroos greats Mark Viduka and Mark Schwarzer.
Boro sit ninth in the second-tier Championship and are firmly entrenched in the battle to earn promotion back into the top flight.
McDonald has long expressed his desire to return to England after unhappy stints with Southampton and Wimbledon earlier in his career.
He will also be hoping to resurrect his hopes of going to the World Cup this June after appearing to fall out of favour with Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek in the past six months
McDonald has been unable to replicate his success with Celtic for his country, yet to score a goal in 15 appearances for Australia.
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