Stephen McManus and Danny Fox could be on way out at Parkhead

Published on Monday 25 January 2010 22:06

AS DANISH striker Morten Rasmussen flew into Scotland for contract talks and a medical with Celtic yesterday, it emerged that two players could be on their way out of Parkhead this week.

Club captain Stephen McManus is believed to be a loan signing target for Middlesbrough, where he would be reunited with his former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, while Burnley are interested in taking Parkhead left-back Danny Fox to Turf Moor.

Fox's short spell with Celtic will come to a surprisingly early end if the 23-year-old agrees personal terms with new Burnley manager Brian Laws. He was signed from Coventry City for an undisclosed sum on a four-and-half-year deal in July and made his debut in the 5-0 Wembley Cup win over Egyptian champions Al-Ahly. He has played 23 times this season under manager Tony Mowbray and in November made his Scotland debut in the 3-0 friendly defeat by Wales in Cardiff, qualifying to play for Scotland through his grandfather.

While Fox has been a regular in the Celtic side, McManus has featured only 14 times under Mowbray. If he joins Middlesbrough, he will follow the road taken earlier this month by former Celtic team-mates Barry Robson, Willo Flood and Chris Killen.

The departures of Fox and McManus would continue the increasing transformation of the Celtic squad. Thus far in the transfer window Mowbray has also allowed Gary Caldwell to go to Wigan, and has brought in Ki Sung-Yeung from FC Seoul, Jos Hooiveld from AIK Stockholm and 19-year-old Thomas Rogne on freedom of contract from Stabaek.

Celtic have also agreed a fee with Danish side Brondby for Rasmussen who is expected to complete his move today. The striker has won three caps for his country, and has scored 52 goals in 111 games for Brondby.