MIDDLESBROUGH look set to miss out on a deal for Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka after the Bees pulled the plug.

Boro had a deal in place to bring the 24-year-old Nigerian to the Riverside Stadium as another option in holding midfielder alongside captain Jonny Howson. The deal was expected to be a loan move until the end of the season.

However, an injury to Danish midfielder Christian Norgaard has stopped the deal from going ahead with the Premier League side reluctant to let Onyeka go and take away one of their options in midfield.

It comes as a blow to Boro with manager Chris Wilder keen to push through a move for a midfielder before tonight’s 11pm deadline. Howson is currently being assessed by the club’s medical staff after an injury he piked up in the defeat to Watford on Tuesday.

Manager Chris Wilder said after the game on Tuesday night: “We’re light on bodies in the middle of the park and nothing on the bench to come on when we lose Jonny so we’ve got to shift Paddy. Everyone knows where we’re at.”

Boro are also still in the market for an experienced striker with Nottingham Forest frontman Sam Surridge being linked with a possible move to Teesside.

With Michy Batshuayi set to complete a move to the City Ground, that could pave the way for Surridge to head to Boro.