Middlesbrough plot transfer raid for 21-goal lethal striker, West Ham set £1m asking price for in-demand starlet

The big win saw Boro move to within five points of sixth place, as they look to make up the ground with just nine matches of the season left to play.

Speaking after the game, Lilywhites boss Alex Neil hit out at the officials for sending off midfielder Alan Browne in the first-half, after he had the last word in an off-the-ball scrap with Sam Morsy.

Neil claimed: “It’s an extremely poor decision. I have seen it back. Sam Morsy hits him with his forearm on the back of his head, he is right in front of them.

“Alan instinctively reacts because not only has he been hit once, it’s twice. It is hard to accept and understand how the ref and assistant can see Alan’s part but not Sam Morsy’s part. It changed the game in their favour. Their player is the aggressor and our player reacted in that instance.”

Next up, Boro will look to continue racking up the points this weekend, when they travel to take on Millwall in the capital.

Here are today's biggest transfer stories and the latest team news involving Middlesbrough and the rest of the Championship, as the build-up to the upcoming weekend's action begins: