CALM, in control but ready to pounce if an opportunity presents itself.

That's how things stand at Middlesbrough on deadline day, who, after an extremely productive Thursday when the captures of Lewis O'Brien and Sam Greenwood were confirmed, are set to finalise the signing of left-back Alex Bangura, a player who they've courted throughout the summer.

Will there be any further additions? Watch this space.

Tony Pulis famously took his staff to the pub at 4pm on deadline day when he was manager because he knew there would be no more new arrivals. Any regulars in Hurworth boozers shouldn't expect to see Carrick and his coaching team rock up on Friday evening.

"The window is still open so you can't just turn your phone off and finish," said the head coach in his press conference on Thursday.

But for all Boro will keep their eyes open on deadline day, Carrick told yesterday of his "delight" at how the squad looks.

O'Brien has the makings of being a fine capture. He was one of the Championship stars the season before last and after his move to Nottingham Forest didn't work out, he's arrived at Boro desperate to "prove a point". He made that absolutely clear when he spoke to the media at Rockliffe on Thursday afternoon.

Boro played the long game with O'Brien. They've been in contact with Nottingham Forest for at least a couple of months laying the groundwork for the move. O'Brien was very much in-demand this summer, with Sheffield United and Leeds United both linked. The Blades were reportedly told they'd have to pay £10m if they wanted the midfielder on a permanent deal.

Greenwood, meanwhile, will offer versatility across the forward line. He's equally as comfortable playing as No.10 as he is leading the line.

Which leads us onto the situation up-front. Boro continue to monitor the market and assess options but the decision to keep Josh Coburn at the club, confirmed by Carrick on Thursday, strongly suggests there might not be a frontman through the door before the 11pm deadline. But it will depend on who's available.

Tom Cannon's name cropped up again, but as of late yesterday afternoon that appeared unlikely. It's understood reports claiming Boro had bid £4m for the Everton striker were wide of the mark. You can never say never at this stage, when things change so quickly, but Everton appear to be attempting to spark a bidding war for the striker, who has been linked to plenty of Championship clubs over the course of the summer.

Preston are said to be very interested after his loan spell last summer, but reports last night claimed Leicester had made a late move.

Boro have Emmanuel Latte Lath and Coburn as out-and-out strikers and Greenwood - as referenced - played plenty of his football through the age groups as a centre-forward. Marcus Forss is clearly seen as a winger by Carrick but did arrive as a striker, while Matt Crooks and Morgan Rogers have both been used up-front by the head coach. So while Boro have been targeting another striker signing, they're not short of options in that area.

And Coburn - whose pre-season was frustratingly disrupted by injury - will be desperate to take any opportunities that come his way. He told the Northern Echo in an exclusive interview last season about his desire to come back and play his way into Carrick's plans.

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Asked yesterday whether Boro will be pushing to make further signings beyond Bangura on deadline day, Carrick said: "Sometimes things are in our hands where you might push for certain things, other time things get thrown upon you because somebody is interested in one of your players.

"You have to expect the unexpected. We're ready for anything. We feel we're in a good place.

"We're definitely not chasing and desperate for anything in terms of rash decisions. We feel like we're in control. But yeah of course, you always have to be ready for something that's thrown up in front of you."

The arrival of Bangura from SC Cambuur will further strengthen Boro's options at left-back after the capture of Lukas Engel. Carrick refused to be drawn on what means for Hayden Coulson and whether a loan move is a possibility.

One exit that will be confirmed today is Martin Payero's Udinese move. He travelled yesterday to finalise his switch to the Serie A club, with reports in Italy claiming the midfielder will sign a four-year deal.

It clearly wasn't going to work out for Payero at Boro and a move suits all parties.