Middlesbrough closing in on deal for Valencia striker Alvaro Negredo

The Teessiders have been in talks over the 30-year-old former Manchester City forward for some time as they look to secure an initial loan deal.

Those discussions are reported to be continuing in Marbella, where Boro will play three games starting with Tuesday night's friendly against Real Betis.

Head coach Aitor Karanka has already boosted his squad for the return to the Premier League with six new additions in the shape of Victor Valdes, Viktor Fischer, Bernardo Espinosa, Marten de Roon, Jordan McGhee and Antonio Barragan, and he is not about to stop there.

The club is edging towards an agreement on Negredo, while they are also close to landing Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic and Uruguayan midfielder Gaston Ramirez.