MIDDLESBROUGH’S transfer business continues to gather pace, with the club having held detailed discussions over Dutch winger Mitchell van Bergen.
Boro officials are hoping to push through a deal for the 21-year-old, who is expected to command a fee in excess of £1m.
Van Bergen has entered the final year of his contract with his current employers, Heerenveen, having joined the club from Vitesse in 2018, and is understood to have rejected the Dutch side’s offer of a new deal.
He has spent most of his Heerenveen carer playing on the right-hand side, although he is equally comfortable on the left flank, and started his current side’s opening game of the Eridivisie season last Friday as they beat Go Ahead Eagles 1-0.
Boro are short of wide options, with Yannick Bolasie, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Marvin Johnson and Neeskens Kebano all having left since the end of last season, and Hayden Coulson having recently joined Ipswich Town.
Speaking at his press conference yesterday, Neil Warnock expressed a hope that he would have a new wide player “through the door” before the end of the week.
Boro are also close to completing the signing of Andraz Sporar, with the Slovenian forward set to join from Sporting Lisbon on a season-long loan. The terms of Sporar’s temporary switch from Portugal are understood to have been agreed.
Warnock still wants another left-back, but Swansea City boss Russell Martin remains reluctant to lose Jake Bidwell.
Bidwell, who has been the subject of strong interest from Teesside, started Swansea’s home defeat to Stoke City last night.
Martin said: “I don't think there's a person in football who's worked with Jake who wouldn't like him - he's a fantastic pro, a fantastic guy. (He) got a great assist, played in a different position, and he's doing really well.
“As far as I am concerned, I have not had a call from Middlesbrough or anyone and no-one's informed me that anyone wants to take Jake.
“So, unless that happens, he will be here, he will be in with a shout of playing as long as he continues to perform to the level he has. I think he has got better game on game. I like Jake as well.”
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