STEVE McClaren was finally beginning to trim his Middlesbrough playing staff last night.

The Boro boss allowed full-back Curtis Fleming to join Birmingham City on a month's loan, and Brian Deane was close to agreeing a deal with Leicester.

Deane was on the verge of completing a permanent switch to the Foxes after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee for the striker.

Personal terms are not expected to be a problem and the 33-year-old is expected to team up with his former Sheffield United boss Dave Bassett.

McClaren revealed: ''We are very close to doing a deal. We are just waiting for things to develop, because the player has to discuss personal terms.''

Deane could go straight into the Leicester squad for tomorrow's trip to Manchester United - if a deal is done in time.

But Bassett said: "It's one of those situations that's been boiling around for a few weeks, and you're never sure if it's ever going to happen.''

Fleming, meanwhile, could be joined at St Andrews by Boro teammate Steve Vickers.

The centre-back, who has been on loan at Crystal Palace this season, is also close to a move away from the Riverside.

And McClaren admitted: "Steve has been in limbo since coming back from Palace but we are talking to Birmingham.

"There's nothing concrete as yet but it would be a permanent deal."

* The Premier League called an emergency meeting of club chairmen yesterday to decide on a plan of action to avert a players' strike.

The 20 chairmen attended the summit in London and are now expected to make a new offer to the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) at talks today.

Talks with the PFA scheduled for yesterday were called off at short notice to allow the League's meeting to take place, and chief executive Richard Scudamore is now set to bring a compromise offer on television money to the table.

* Tottenham have signed veteran Portsmouth goalkeeper Dave Beasant on a two-month contract as cover for Neil Sullivan.

Spurs' second-choice stopper Kasey Keller is injured and Beasant is likely to be on the bench for Sunday's north London derby with Arsenal.

The 42-year-old moved to Fratton Park in the summer and established himself as first-choice goalkeeper under manager Graham Rix

Read more about the Boro here.