MIDDLESBROUGH will complete the £2m capture of Wigan Athletic midfielder Adam Forshaw later today, with the 23-year-old set to go straight into the squad for Saturday’s promotion clash with his former club Brentford.

Forshaw travelled to Boro’s Rockliffe Park training ground yesterday morning to put the finishing touches to his switch from the DW Stadium, which will see him sign a three-and-a-half year deal on Teesside.

With a medical successfully completed, his move should be confirmed later today, with his transfer representing the final piece of Aitor Karanka’s promotion jigsaw.

The Boro head coach has always maintained that he wants two players for every position, and his decision to send Milos Veljkovic back to Tottenham at the end of his loan spell left a gap at the heart of midfield.

Forshaw will plug that gap, and provide competition to Grant Leadbitter, Adam Clayton and Dean Whitehead for the two central-midfield berths in Karanka’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.

A product of Everton’s academy system, Forshaw made his senior debut for the Merseyside club in a Europa League tie with BATE Borisov in 2009.

He joined Brentford following his release from Everton, and spent two seasons at Griffin Park, playing a pivotal role in the London club’s promotion from League One last season.

He scored eight goals in 40 appearances last term, and was named in the PFA League One Team of the Year thanks to a string of impressive midfield displays.

An energetic, tough-tackling midfielder, who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, he made a £4m move to Wigan Athletic in the summer, with Latics boss Uwe Rosler branding him a key component of the club’s rebuilding plan.

Things have not gone to plan at the DW Stadium, with Rosler’s departure reflecting a hugely disappointing campaign that sees Wigan battling against relegation in 23rd position.

Their struggles have persuaded chairman Dave Whelan to alter his squad, and Forshaw has been allowed to move to Teesside despite making 17 appearances this season, the most recent of which came in this month’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers.

His move to Middlesbrough underlines the extent of Steve Gibson’s continued support, with the Boro chairman having sanctioned the move despite continuing to underwrite the club’s monthly expenditure.

The deal is likely to complete Boro’s transfer activity for the season, as it will take them close to the limit that is permitted under the Football League’s Financial Fair Play regulations.

That situation would ease if the Teessiders were to sell someone, but both Karanka and Gibson are adamant that none of Middlesbrough’s key players will be leaving Teesside this month despite mounting interest in full-back George Friend in particular.

Both West Brom and Crystal Palace have been linked with Friend in the last 24 hours, with the former having scouted the defender especially closely in the first half of the season.

Friend, who signed a new four-year deal with Boro last summer, is a key part of Karanka’s first-choice line-up, and there is no chance of him moving on halfway through a promotion campaign.

* Middlesbrough Official Supporters’ Club have organised a special two-day trip for the final away game of the season at Fulham, which is currently scheduled for Saturday, April 25.

The trip includes executive coach travel to and from London, and a two-night stay in a four-star hotel, and is priced at £185 per person, based on two people sharing a twin or double room.

Match tickets are not included, and anyone interested should Email Chris Joseph at chris.joseph2@ntlworld.com.