JUNINHO will meet with Middlesbrough officials today in a bid to agree a severance package that would see him join Scottish champions Celtic.

The Brazilian has two years to run on his Boro deal and he hopes for a golden handshake before officially becoming a Bhoys player.

After undergoing a medical and agreeing terms in Glasgow on Wednesday night, Juninho returned to the North-East where he was hoping to tie up the loose ends.

However, chief executive Keith Lamb was at a Premier League meeting yesterday and manager Steve McClaren was not around having been away with the England camp.

That meant Juninho was unable to hold negotiations with his current employers, but he hopes to overcome that remaining obstacle today.

Sources in Scotland claim that Celtic have got the diminutive South American at a knock down price - lower than the £1m initially reported.

But, as part of the bargain deal, Boro are believed to be hoping Celtic will contribute to Juninho's pay-off at the Riverside.

It now seems only a matter of time before the former Atletico Madrid star, who arrived at Boro for £3.8m in 2002, departs his beloved club - much to many of the fans' fury.

Inter Milan's Stephane Dalmat, the subject of interest from McClaren a year ago, has been suggested as a replacement for Juninho.

This time 12 months ago Dalmat opted against a move to Boro and then completed a season long loan switch to Tottenham.

Meanwhile, Ray Parlour has no qualms about trying to stop Arsenal equalling a record that he played his part in.

Parlour, having spent 13 years as a professional at Highbury, will be in the Boro midfield when they make the trip to north London on Sunday.

The 31-year-old contributed to Arsenal's amazing run of 41 games without defeat during his final season at the club before leaving in July. If the Gunners avoid defeat to Boro then they will equal Nottingham Forest's 42-game top-flight unbeaten run record that they set between November 1977 and December 1978.

But Parlour insists he is willing to find the net in a Boro shirt against Arsene Wenger's team - even if it means Arsenal's chance to enter the history books for another achievement disappears.

"I know there is more than a hint of irony to this. I did my best to help Arsenal set up this run, now I'm trying to knock them over, but if I get the chance I will," said Parlour. "I'm a Boro player now and the fans can rest assured that if I get the chance to score I will."

Skipper Gareth Southgate could shake off the knee injury that kept him out of last Saturday's Premiership opener.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.