Middlesbrough set to battle Aston Villa and Celtic for £5m defender

Boro are still searching for reinforcements ahead of Friday's transfer deadline with Tony Pulis eyeing some additional squad depth.

And fresh reports have linked Middlesbrough with a move for centre back Moukoudi - with speculation earlier this summer suggesting that a £5m move was being prepared.

Moukoudi, a French under-20 international, looked set to seal a move to Fulham earlier this month only for the deal to collapse at the last minute and has also been linked with Arsenal and Sevilla in recent months.

His impressive performances for Ligue 2 side Le Havre have attracted plenty of interest from elsewhere, and reports suggest that Boro could have a battle on their hands to land the youngster.

The Daily Mail are reporting that both Aston Villa and Celtic are keen on a move for Moukoudi - with the former thought to be set to launch a loan move for the centre back.

Villa are keen to offload Tommy Elphick as QPR and Rangers show an interest, and are lining-up a move for Moukoudi as a replacement.

Whether Boro do launch a swoop remains to be seen, with Pulis thought to be prioritising other areas ahead of the deadline.