JESPER Blomqvist took a parting shot at Middlesbrough last night after opting to join Charlton Athletic.

The Swedish winger had been expected to sign a 12-month contract at the Riverside after spending over a month with Steve McClaren's men.

But, with today's transfer window deadline approaching, Blomqvist completed a switch to Premiership rivals Charlton.

And the former Manchester United star took a swipe at Boro after failing to agree personal terms.

"In the end they were a bit unprofessional. You will have to ask them what happened," said Blomqvist, who has been joined at the Valley by ex-Boro midfielder Robbie Mustoe.

The 26-year-old arrived on trial at Boro's Rockliffe Park training base in July after being released by Everton.

And after impressing, McClaren handed Blomqvist the chance to prove his fitness in a friendly with Udinese. But he had to be substituted with ligament damage.

However, McClaren decided to help Blomqvist recover from that injury and then consider offering the player a permanent deal.

And the annoyed Boro chief, whose side entertain Blackburn Rovers this afternoon, admitted: "I'm disappointed really because I thought he had fitted in quite well.

"The unfortunate thing was that he was doing well and he got injured during a friendly out in Austria.

"He would have been a useful player for us and by the time the deadline we had set came he had decided to go elsewhere. We wish him well.

"He has been staying here and having rehabilitation here. We have been working hard with him to get him back and fit enough to have his medical.

"We had that over the last few days. I'm just disappointed but I can understand the player's point of view. I wanted Jesper to become a Middlesbrough player.

"I have not spoken to Jesper since, but I think it's a purely financial reason."

McClaren had been hoping to make Blomqvist his sixth summer signing - following Massimo Maccarone, Geremi, Franck Queudrue, Juninho and George Boateng through the Riverside door.

The player's switch to the Addicks now means that Aussie defender Tony Vidmar is the former Manchester United No 2's only other likely capture.

But as Vidmar is a free agent there is no need to push through a deal quickly, as he can sign after the closure of the transfer window later today.

And McClaren, who has brought Italian Emanuele Brioschi's brief trial to an end, said: "We are still in negotiations with Tony and we are looking to do something with him.

"We hope something can happen, but there is no real rush because as he is available on a free so we can sign him after Saturday."

McClaren believes the introduction of a European-wide window is going to be a benefit to all top-flight clubs, and it will allow him to concentrate primarily on activities on the field.

"I am in favour of it because we can plan with the squad I have and not have to worry about signing new players and talking to agents," he said.

"It will allow me to plan far better. It means that the manager now has to work with the players he has available.

"Then I can look at what needs doing when it opens again in January and then again at the end of the season - I think it's a good thing."

The Boro boss faces a selection dilemma against Rovers today with the return from suspension of left-back Queudrue.

The Frenchman, a £2.5m capture from Lens, is expected to come back at the expense of Colin Cooper, who has proved a more than capable replacement.

And McClaren said: "Franck is a regular. He played all of last season. Cooper has played very, very well and that's something I will have to debate."

Striker Szilard Nemeth has recovered from a hamstring injury, but is unlikely to come straight back into the match-day squad.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.