Midfielder Riley McGree is sensationally set to join Middlesbrough after BACKING OUT of an agreement with Celtic.
As revealed by Record Sport, the Australian international had agreed a deal to join from Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC following the end of his loan at Birmingham City.
He was set to become Ange Postecoglou's fifth signing of the January window, with the Parkhead boss the man who called him up for the Socceroos for the first time.
Postecoglou even had a major say on the deal, talking personally to his countryman and believed he had the deal sealed.
In fact McGree had agreed to make the move – but an 11th hour bid from Middlesbrough has derailed things.
And the 23-year-old has delivered an extraordinary snub to Celtic as he goes back on the agreement, to remain in the English Championship.
It's understood McGree was at the Riverside for a medical on Wednesday morning, with the transfer expected to be officially confirmed in the evening.
Celtic believed they had a £3million deal agreed for the former Melbourne City man but following his shock u-turn Postecoglou will now turn to other targets.
The Premiership heavyweights have already completed deals for Daezen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi, Reo Hatate and Johnny Kenny.
