GORDON STRACHAN’S bid to land first choice central defensive target Gary Caldwell looks to have failed, with the Scotland international last night on the verge of joining Premier League Wigan Athletic.

The lure of top flight football scuppered Middlesbrough’s attempt to secure Celtic’s experienced centrehalf, who is in talks with Latics manager Roberto Martinez over a proposed move.

Caldwell, who began his career in Newcastle United’s reserve team, was close to agreeing a switch to the Riverside before he made an eleventh hour U-turn and spurned the chance to link up with his former manager.

Caldwell’s decision deals a significant blow to Strachan’s transfer plans after the Boro boss had identified the 27- year-old as the ideal figure to bring much-needed knowhow to his youthful squad.

The end of his pursuit for Caldwell is also likely to strengthen Strachan’s resolve to retain Emanuel Pogatetz who remains a target of Panathanaikos, although the Greek side are nowhere near Boro’s valuation of the defender who is out of contract in the summer and now free to talk to other clubs.

Caldwell was part of a Parkhead quartet, including forward Chris Killen and midfielders Barry Robson and Willo Flood expected to complete moves to Boro this week.

Strachan is still poised to tie up deals for the remaining Celtic trio but Robson’s move may have to be re-negotiated as he and Caldwell were originally part of a combined £1.6m deal.

Strachan has already had to re-think his squad rebuilding plans after a move for Rangers’ Kris Boyd was put on hold following an announcement that the striker is predicted to be out for up to six weeks following a hernia operation.

Boro assistant manager Colin Cooper admitted that the club’s position in the Championship could see them struggle to attract their key transfer targets. But he stressed that Strachan will only try to secure the type of characters who are “desperate” to pull on a Boro shirt.

“If we can’t compete with Premier League clubs then we can’t compete with them,” noted Cooper.

“What the manager has said is that you don’t want players who want to join Middlesbrough because they want a few more quid or are worried about earning a few less quid for that matter.

“You want the right characters to come to this football club to help push us in the right direction. They are the type of characters that the manager is looking for but it can be difficult to get the ones you want.

“If you don’t come into the football club for the right reasons then, in my opinion, you are already starting out on the back foot as an individual.

“What the manager is trying to do is get people who are desperate to play for Middlesbrough.

If they desperately want to join us we know we have got them in the right frame of mind from day one.”

Cooper added: “The manager has his targets but they have to be the right sort of people.

“Many times before we have had people who haven’t come to this football club for the right reasons hence we are where we are today.”

The assistant boss, with Mohammed Shawky set to move to Turkish outfit Kayerispor, reflected on the Egyptian’s ill-fated spell on Teesside.

“When Shawky came in he was always first pick in the Egypt national team.

“Unfortunately for him that’s not the case any more.

I’m disappointment for him because I saw a character who, when he has played, I know for a fact that he gave 100 per cent as a person,” said Cooper.

“He would probably say he wasn’t given enough games here to get a momentum going in English football. But the game in Egypt is a lot slower.

“He plays for them generally just in front of the back four where he breaks things up and plays it simply and at a low tempo. English football isn’t like that. I liked him as a person and I wish him all success.”