MIDDLESBROUGH are ready to strike in the final week of the transfer window - but only if an opportunity presents itself that Michael Carrick and the club's recruitment team deem too good to turn down.

The January window closes a week today, with Boro having already bolstered their ranks this month the capture of Finn Azaz from Aston Villa and the loan signing of Luke Ayling from Leeds United.

Boro remain interested in strengthening their forward line this month but have always been firm in their insistence that they won't sign a striker for the sake of it and will only move for the right player and the right deals.

Carrick admits that at this stage he's uncertain how the final week will play out but has stressed that there'll be no "desperate" decisions from Boro, with the club's coaching and recruitment team satisfied with the make-up of the current squad, but obviously aware of the issues up-front.

Josh Coburn is the only natural striker currently available, but nursing an ongoing groin issue that will need to be managed in the second half of the season. Emmanuel Latte Lath remains sidelined and it's unclear at this stage how long the Ivorian will be out of action. The future of Morgan Rogers, meanwhile, remains in doubt, with Aston Villa expected to return with an improved bid before the deadline.

Rogers has led the line in Boro's last three games but the 21-year-old remains the subject of intense transfer interest from Villa, with a further bid likely in the coming days after two offers were knocked back last week.

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Boro won't stand in the way of Rogers but only if Villa meet their asking price, with the former Manchester City forward thought to be valued at £10m-plus.

And regardless of how the Rogers situation plays out, Boro's stance on incomings will remain unchanged.

"It's definitely (important that Boro) don't panic," said Carrick.

"The worst thing you can do is panic and make rash decisions. Sometimes the decisions are thrown on you and you need to make a quicker decision, that's the window. But we try and set things up and be in a position where we don't make desperate decisions."

Asked whether he's confident Boro will further strengthen their squad ahead of next Thursday's deadline, Carrick said: “Confident? What does that mean this month? It’s the transfer window so nothing’s guaranteed.

"It depends what pops up and what we’re looking at. Whatever answer I give, I’m guessing really at this stage.

"We’ve got things and plans we want to look at, but in terms of how confident you can be about what that ends up being? Sometimes, it’s out of our hands."

Villa are pondering their next move for Rogers, who scored a fine late goal for Boro in their 6-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

And Carrick insisted afterwards it was business as usual for Boro and Rogers, despite the Villa interest and ongoing speculation.

"You'll keep reading a lot of things at this time of year, don't read too much into it to be honest," he said.

"He's our player at the minute so I have no reason to believe anything otherwise."

Boro now have a week and a half break to prepare for Tees-Wear derby against Sunderland. It's not clear at this stage whether Isaiah Jones will be fit to return for the visit of Michael Beale's Black Cats after the winger missed the Chelsea game.

Boro have been boosted by the return to fitness of Paddy McNair and Anfernee Dijksteel in recent days, while Lewis O'Brien has also had his first taste of action since recovering from broken leg.