EMANUEL POGATETZ should become the latest addition to the Middlesbrough playing staff by the end of the week -but the chances of him being joined by Stephen Appiah are dwindling.

Having already spent £7.5m on striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Steve McClaren is on the verge of paying nearly £2m for Pogatetz.

The Austrian full-back has been told he can leave Bayer Leverkusen and is due on Teesside this week to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson confirmed: "It's no secret we are close to finalising a deal for Emanuel."

McClaren has been keen on adding Pogatetz to their ranks since he shone against the Premiership club playing for Grazer AK in the UEFA Cup in February.

The 22-year-old is seen as the perfect man to compete with Frenchman Franck Queudrue in the starting line-up.

It will bring to an end McClaren's search for a new left-back having already considered signing former Newcastle man Olivier Bernard.

The arrival of Pogatetz could still be followed by Appiah but Boro are struggling to agree a deal with Juventus for their Ghanaian midfielder.

Boro have worked hard on negotiating a deal with Juventus for the 25-year-old but it seems £5m will have to be exchanged after the Italian club rejected the offer of a season-long loan.

The temporary switch, with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the campaign, would have suited Boro more. But Juve are only willing to do business if a permanent deal can be agreed.

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