Reports from Africa claim Middlesbrough have offered a trial to Ghana international Emmanuel Agyeman Badu.

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing is the latest top name to be linked with Sunderland.

The transfer window is now officially open and with it comes the inevitable gusts of rampant rumour-mongering and drip-drip of the most infuriating transfer sagas. Setantasports. com assesses where each club stands at the start of the speculation storm.

Media reports in Holland are suggesting that Boro have made a bid for Heerenveen’s Michael Bradley.

Setantasports. com can exclusively reveal that Birmingham left back Franck Queudrue will be allowed to leave St Andrews for free this summer.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is not expecting any immediate success in the transfer market.

Stewart Downing feels Middlesbrough only have themselves to blame for scrambling around to avoid relegation so late in the season.