Middlesbrough hope to secure £7million transfer target as star striker is given permission to leave

Saville, 25, is set to travel to Teesside this morning ahead of a season-long loan, with a view to a permanent £7million move next summer, according to the Northern Echo.

Boro, who face Championship leaders Leeds United tonight, are also working on a deal to sign Crystal Palace's Jason Puncheon, who is yet to make a single Premier League appearance for the Eagles this campaign.

Puncheon, 32, worked with Boro manager Tony Pulis during their respective spells at Selhurst Park, and Palace manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed he will allow the midfielder to move on loan.

Boro will also allow forward Martin Braithwaite to leave, after the Danish international told Pulis he wants to move to Spain.

Braithwaite, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bordeaux, has been one of Boro's key players this season, starting all five league games and scoring three goals.

Pulis confirmed yesterday that Boro have missed out on some of their first-choice transfer targets, most notably winger Yannick Bolasie.

The Boro boss has expressed a desire to sign another winger, and could still make a late move to address his squad's lack of width.

Saville is predominately a box-to-box midfielder but is versatile, having played in the number 10 position and at full-back.

Puncheon, who has also played for Blackpool, QPR and Southampton in the top-flight, has previously operated as a winger but become more accustomed to a central role in recent years.