MIDDLESBROUGH are hopeful of winning the battle to sign in-demand Liverpool teenager Ben Doak, with the winger having emerged as a target on Friday.

The 18-year-old has played 10 times for Liverpool's first team but new boss Arne Slot has decided the former Celtic youngster will be better served continuing his development elsewhere this season.

Reports this week claimed as many as seven clubs - including Leicester and Southampton in the Premier League - were keen on Doak. Fresh reports today say it's now down to Boro and Hull - and it's understood there's a confidence at Rockliffe that Doak will end up at the Riverside.

The winger was this week named in Scotland's senior squad for the upcoming games against Poland and Portugal.

Doak made one Premier League appearance for Liverpool last season and also featured in the Europa League and League Cup.

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Meanwhile, Josh Coburn's loan move to Millwall will be confirmed this afternoon. The striker will spend all season at the Den on a straight loan with no option to buy next summer.

As reported earlier today, Emmanuel Latte Lath has been of interest to Ipswich Town but boss Kieran McKenna has now admitted "it's less likely than likely" he's able to sign a striker today. And Boro had absolutely no interest in allowing last season's top scorer to move on ahead of tonight's deadline.

Boro have been clear in their stance when it comes to selling their star players all summer and that is unchanged as we move into the final hours of the window.

It comes amid fresh reports from The Athletic that Ipswich have revived talks to sign Armando Broja. That deal looked to have collapsed on Thursday but could now be back on the table.

Quizzed on Ipswich's pursuit of a centre-forward, McKenna said today: “It’s less likely than likely, but it’s not impossible. It’s (forward) an area we have looked at and the club is continuing to work hard. If it’s not possible then we’ll progress with the squad we have.

“I’m happy with where we’re at. We have tried to strengthen in the striker position but if we don’t manage to, then we have George Hirst coming back from injury and we have three forwards that can all have an impact at this level.”