MIDDLESBROUGH were celebrating a transfer double last night as they completed the deadline-day signing of both Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Neeskens Kebano.

Mendez-Laing joined as a free agent following his release from Cardiff City shortly before the start of the season, while Kebano moved to Teesside on a season-long loan from Fulham.

With Yannick Bolasie and Darnell Fisher having already joined at the end of last week, last night’s developments completed a successful window for Neil Warnock.

The Boro boss has retained the services of Britt Assombalonga, with Bristol City having been unable to agree a financial package for the striker, although Lewis Wing and Nathan Wood were both allowed to leave on loan.

Mendez-Laing was the first of the new arrivals to put pen to paper, having previously worked with Warnock at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The attacking wide player, who has signed a short-term deal to the end of the season, began his senior career with Wolves, and spent time with Peterborough and Rochdale before moving to Cardiff, where he helped the Bluebirds win promotion to the Premier League.

Warnock has been monitoring his position for a number of weeks, and opted to make his move yesterday after it emerged Derby County were also ready to offer the 28-year-old a contract.

“I know Mendez well and he’ll give us an added dimension,” said the Boro boss. “It’ll be a couple of week before he’s match fit, but it’ll be great to have him for this run-in now.

“We have been short of wide players, and he is  player with something to prove. We’re looking forward to having him here.”

Kebano’s season-long switch from Fulham went through shortly before the deadline, with Boro’s move for the attacking midfielder having gathered pace after they were unable to land his Cottagers team-mate Aboubakar Kamara, with the striker moving to Dijon instead.

Having started his career with Paris St Germain, Kebano joined Fulham in the summer of 2016 and has made 99 senior appearances for the Cottagers.

He was an influential performer under Scott Parker last season, scoring in both legs of Fulham's play-off semi-final win over Cardiff. However, he has struggled for game time this season, making just five Premier League appearances.

“It’s a deal I didn’t think would happen,” said Warnock. “We’ve been after Neeskens for a few weeks now and we’ve managed to get it over the line which is a real plus for us. 

“Mendez-Laing and Yannick are both lacking match fitness whereas Neeskens has been involved and playing. He’s another string to our bow.”

Wing’s loan departure to Rotherham was confirmed in the final four hours of the window, with Neil Warnock having agreed to allow the midfielder to leave in order to increase his chances of playing regular football in the second half of the season.

Wing has found his first-team chances limited under Warnock this term, and will spend the remainder of the campaign trying to assist Rotherham’s survival push at the New York Stadium.

The 25-year-old has made 15 appearances this season, but the vast majority have seen him coming off the substitutes' bench. Signed from Northern League side Shildon Town in the summer of 2017, Wing has made 92 senior appearances for Boro, scoring 14 goals, and has previously spent time on loan at Yeovil Town.

“I like him for many reasons,” said Rotherham boss Paul Warner. “He’s got an eye for a goal and he shoots on sight which is something we need because we definitely need to add more goals.

“He’s got a real energy about him, he can take set-pieces and he can play in any one of those four positions in the middle of the park. The best thing for me is that he’s got an inner drive, he’s a winner and he’s a bit of a scrapper.”

Nathan Wood followed Wing through the exit door shortly before the window closed, joining League One side Crewe Alexandra on a season-long loan.

Wood, who joins Boro team-mate Stephen Walker on loan at Gresty Road, has been allowed to leave as Warnock feels he has sufficient central-defensive options with Grant Hall having returned to full fitness.