Transfer news: Middlesbrough eye loan deal for Premier League striker as Neil Warnock waits on winger move

Boro’s priority is to sign another wide player before the end of the transfer window, with Warnock revealing earlier this week that a deal is in place to bring a player in.

When discussing transfers ahead of Boro’s game against Blackburn this weekend, Warnock said: “We’ve got one option left as a striker and that would be a loan at the last minute.

“If not, we’ll stick with what we’ve got. We’ve got three good striker options when they play, so you can’t really have a go.

“The other night, you look at Forest and the forward line they finished with - (Lyle) Taylor and (Lewis) Grabban and (Anthony) Knockaert etc. It was some forward line that.

“We might just have to get on with what we’ve got and do the best we can.”

When asked about the wide player he was refering to earlier this week, Warnock added: “We're a little bit more optimistic.

“We have three or four irons in the fire, we want two if we can.

“I'm still optimistic we can get one, maybe two and I'll be happy if we do that.”

Part of the reason why the winger deal hasn’t been completed sooner is because the Premier League club want to assess their options before sending the player out on loan.

Asked if the deal is likely to be left until the final few days of the window, Warnock replied: “I would expect so. We are hoping before then because we'd like to have him involved against Rotherham.

“You saw the other night on the bench, there wasn’t a lot on the bench. We could do with a couple more attacking options so if I would like to get something done before Wednesday.

“The striker will be at the last minute and then it’s down to the player if he chooses us, I think there will be three or four clubs in for him.”

Boro may also allow more of their younger players to leave on loan before the end of the month.

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