MUZZY Izzet was locked in talks with Middlesbrough last night over a move to the North-East club.

The 27-year-old Leicester City midfielder and his agent, Jonathan Barnett, were believed to have been shown around the Teesside area yesterday before holding negotiations with Boro boss Steve McClaren.

Earlier this week Leicester accepted a £6m bid for the lively playmaker, and Foxes supremo John Elsom gave the Riverside club permission to contact their player.

But as both Izzet and McClaren were away on international duty with Turkey and England respectively this week, a meeting was not arranged until yesterday.

Should Izzet agree terms he could be unveiled as a Boro player later today after undergoing a medical.

However, there is no rush to push through a deal quickly, as he is Cup-tied, and he will not be eligible to play against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup tomorrow. He would make his debut against Fulham on Tuesday night.

Boro centre-back Ugo Ehiogu believes the signing of the Turkish midfielder would give the squad a boost, similar to when Benito Carbone arrived last week.

"Beni has improved the squad and any player who improves the squad is welcome as far as I'm concerned," said Ehiogu.

"Any addition to the side, of something which we haven't got, is a welcome boost.

"Izzet has had a lot of success at Leicester and he has come on leaps and bounds since having Martin O'Neill as his manager.

"He's a player that would give us that little bit more but we will just have to wait and see.

Read more about the Boro here.