McManus' loan deal expires today and he remains on the Celtic pay-roll, but Strachan maintains Boro are determined to push through a deal for the £2.5m rated centreback.
Stephen wants to be here,
said Strachan. We will make that happen one way or another.
All parties want it to work so there will be a point when it does work. Whether that point is tomorrow, the next day, we are hoping all parties will see sense.
Boro are unlikely to spend £2.5m on a defender, however highly they rate him. It looks increasingly likely that Celtic will have to budge on their demands.
An initial £1.5m potentially rising to £2.5m looks likely.
Bailey passed his medical at Rockliffe Park yesterday and will sign in a £1.4m deal.
Strachan is determined not to discuss other potential signings, but outlined his reasons for recruiting a midfielder who scored 13 goals in League One last season.
Bailey has had a medical and that will be him here,
said Strachan, who remains keen on acquiring Rangers striker Kris Boyd.
I spoke to him and his wife, but nobody could do the contract because Keith Lamb is in South Africa.
He's a good player. What you need is drive, character, self-motivation and he has got all of those. We need players that can play in any games that come up.
Bailey is not allowed to train with Boro until either Charlton grant permission or his contract is signed.
Mido and Marvin Emnes who will both move on this summer if a club comes forward were at Rockliffe Park, although Didier Digard is not officially due back until tomorrow when his loan with Nice expires.
Sunderland are believed to have revived a deal for Egyptian full-back Ahmad Al- Muhammadi, amid fears over the weekend that the agreement was in jeopardy.
His club ENPPI have agreed for Sunderland to pay £500,000 up front as a loan fee for the season.
It is believed to be a deal agreed with a view to completing a permanent, £2m transfer, which would also include a 15 per cent sell-on clause if Sunderland did land their man.
Newcastle and Boro target Boyd, meanwhile, is expected to travel to Turkey for discussions over a move to Kayserispor if he decides against a move to either St James' Park or the Riverside Stadium.
The Turkish club are believed to be offering wages of £50,000-a-week and Kayserispor boss Shota Arveladze, a former Rangers striker, said: We offered him a private jet to travel here but only if he signs. If he is just travelling for talks, it's too expensive.''
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo