Boro winger set to join Championship rivals

The 21-year-old is close to sealing a permanent move to Boro's Championship rivals.

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has claimed that Harry Chapman is close to finalising a move to Lancashire.

After spending the entirety of 2017/18 season on loan at Ewood Park, news broke that Middlesbrough midfielder Harry Chapman will join the Rovers on a permanent basis in the coming days.

Middlesbrough have given Blackburn the permission to talk to the winger, who are weighing up a three-year deal for the winger.

Despite signing a senior contract with Boro in 2015, Chapman is yet to make an appearance for them in the League, with all his appearances coming in cup competitions.

He wasn’t included in the Boro squad that faced Newport on Saturday, with Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray claiming that the club is inching closer to agreeing on a deal with Hartlepool-born winger.

"We have had some conversations and we have had permission to talk to him," Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

"Let’s hope it is concluded but what I would say is that we know him, we like what he does and we like his attributes, but he is still a very young boy."

Still, while showcasing his confidence that the deal will be done, Mowbray warned Chapman that he won’t find it easy to break into his first team’s squad.

"I have told Harry he is going to find it really difficult to impact on this team and there is a fair chance we might even bring him in and send him out on loan because I feel he will benefit from playing lots of games."

"Yet once we sign him he will be here for the next three or four years."

Although his one-year stay at Ewood Park was marred with injuries, Chapman still managed to play a key role as Blackburn won promotion to the Championship.

Chapman was due to be a free agent in the coming summer and with Blackburn after his services since the summer, when they tried to sign him but were unable to finalise a deal, the departure of Chapman would be a win-win situation for all parties.

Follow the latest transfer activity during the January transfer window with oneBoro.