Paddy McNair could secure big summer transfer despite Middlesbrough struggles

Former Sunderland midfielder Paddy McNair could secure a big transfer this summer, with Premier League newcomers Sheffield United and Scottish giants Celtic reportedly interested in the midfielder.

That is despite a difficult first season at Middlesbrough which saw him struggle to nail down a regular place in Tony Pulis' side.

Boro paid Sunderland £5million for the Northern Ireland international last summer after his agent made it clear he wished to leave following the club's relegation to League One.

But just 12 months later McNair could be on the move again.

The former Manchester United player managed just 14 starts in all competitions last term, and was often played out of position at right-back - rather than in the box-to-box midfield role that he excelled in at Sunderland in the second half of the 2017-18 season after returning from an ACL injury.

But reports north of the border suggest Neil Lennon is a big fan of his fellow countryman's, with his versatility a particularly appealing attribute of McNair's.

It is suggested Celtic's interest comes after their move for Motherwell's David Turnbull fell through when the player failed a medical.

Watch Paddy McNair's screamer to draw Sunderland level at Reading

However, Celtic reportedly face competition from newly-promoted Sheffield United, with boss Chris Wilder looking to bolster his options ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Wilder has spoken about finding the right players at the right age, at the right price and with the right desire to succeed in the Premier League, and it is believed McNair - who has previous Premier League experience with Manchester United and Sunderland - fits the bill.

Reports suggest the Blades are willing to pay 'the bulk' of the £5m Middlesbrough paid for the 24-year-old. Sunderland are not believed to have a sell-on clause from the previous transfer that would potentially earn them a bit of extra money this summer.

It remains to be seen whether Middlesbrough will be happy to sell or not though. With Pulis now gone, new boss Jonathan Woodgate might offer McNair an opportunity to re-establish himself at the Riverside.