Update: Yeates Move Gets Personal

Mark Yeates` proposed move to Middlesbrough should go through in the "next couple of days," after he spent the afternoon discussing personal terms with the Championship club.

The protracted on-off transfer was confirmed as live again when Southgate spoke to Middlesbrough`s official site: "We`ve been in negotiations with Colchester and we feel we are close to being able to agree some sort of a deal."

He was at the club`s Rockliffe Park training headquarters, according to ITV.

The two sides have now agreed a fee for the 24-year-old club top-scorer for 2008/9, which will remain undisclosed.

U`s chairman, Robbie Cowling, also moved to clear up any ambiguity surrounding myths that Colchester had already sold the player, as per a Sky Sports report released yesterday afternoon.

He told Colchester United`s official website: "We have a history of trying to keep our best players, but it is important to recognise when the time is right for all parties to allow them to leave the club.

"We have received an offer we feel is acceptable and assuming that Mark and Middlesbrough agree everything on a personal level, we feel we are giving him the chance to continue his career elsewhere."

Vital Colchester refuted premature speculation that the deal was already done, this morning, which can be read here.

The website also produced a rundown and fans` reaction to the potential move, which can be viewed here, when the story first broke.

We are also carrying a comment column on the new challenge that awaits Yeates in the North East, here.

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