According to the Daily Mail, Middlesbrough are set to complete the signing of Aston Villa keeper Shay Given in the near future as the 39 year-old gets released from contract at Villa Park.
The hugely experienced stopper has played nearly 750 games in his lengthy career which started back in 1995 with then-Championship side Swindon Town.
After short stints at Sunderland and Blackburn, Given moved to Newcastle in 1997 and was their first choice keeper in the Premier League for an incredible 12 seasons.
Given gained a reputation for being one of the best and most consistent keepers in the country during his time with Magpies and earned a £6 million move to Manchester City in 2009.
After just two years at the Etihad, Given moved on to Aston Villa for a fee of around £3.5 million but would fall behind American stopper Brad Guzan in the pecking order – leading to just five Premier League appearances during the 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons.
The main reason for Aitor Karanka’s pursuit of the Republic of Ireland international is the loan spell Given had at the Riverside Stadium during the 2013-14 season, with Given keeping ten clean sheets in just 16 games.
