THERE was a fresh twist in the Josh Coburn situation late on Thursday night, with a loan move to Millwall now on the cards for the Middlesbrough striker.

Coburn's future has been up in the air for the last couple of weeks since Millwall identified the 21-year-old as a leading transfer target. A permanent move always felt most likely if Coburn was going to leave the Riverside, but talks over a temporary deal were held on Thursday night.

Millwall are set to confirm the club record signing of Serbian striker Mihailo Ivanovic, 19, but boss Neil Harris still wants Coburn. Harris revealed earlier this week that he could be in the market for two strikers after Tom Bradshaw suffered a hamstring injury.

Preston have also been linked with Coburn, with Boro boss Michael Carrick admitting on Thursday that there's "plenty of interest" in the striker, but a temporary move to Millwall now looks most likely as things stand - though that could change at any point in what is bound to be a dramatic deadline day of twists and turns in the Championship.

As things stand, Coburn is unlikely to be replaced, with Boro happy with their centre-forward options.

In terms of incomings, Boro's focus at the start of deadline day was on the defence, with George Edmundson likely to complete a loan move to the Riverside ahead of tonight's 11pm deadline.

Edmundson was identified as a target as Boro look to ensure they don't leave themselves short in defence after Rav van den Berg joined Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan on the treatment table. Van den Berg's injury isn't serious but Saturday's trip to Cardiff might come too soon.

Fulham were this week linked with van den Berg but Boro were unconcerned by the speculation and are confident they'll keep their stars at the club today.

Carrick said: “I think it’s the nature of this time of the year. Deadline is Friday and we have a game Saturday. There are rumours, calls - everyone is ringing everyone asking if they know about this and that. At this stage, we are where we are and we’re calm. There’s no drama from my point of view."

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Edmundson, who came off the bench for Ipswich for the final minute of last weekend's defeat at Manchester City but will be allowed to leave Portman Road, was also linked with Portsmouth, Watford, Blackburn and Hull but Boro are confident of securing a deal for the 27-year-old as things stand.

Carrick and his squad will travel to Cardiff this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's game, but the head coach says that will have no impact on the club's transfer work in the final hours of the window.

He said: “It won’t change for us. We train on the morning and then fly down to Cardiff mid-afternoon, no different. I’ll leave Kieran [Scott] to deal with the other side."