Middlesbrough are reported to be considering a £1 million move for Town central defender Gareth McAuley. The Northern Irish international has lost the captaincy at Portman Road this season and was dropped for the recent game at West Brom.
Boro have sold Robert Huth to Stoke and may sell David Wheater and the Teessiders firming up their interest in McAuley may depend on whether the England U21 international defender moves on before the transfer window closes.
McAuley, who is due to join up with the Northern Ireland squad on Tuesday, was reported to have been involved in a bust-up with manager Roy Keane prior to the West Brom game, a claim Keane subsequently dismissed.
The Blues are believed to be closing in on signing Sheffield Wednesday's Richard Wood, which would almost certainly see McAuley relegated to the Town bench, Alex Bruce having been handed the captain's armband and likely to fill one of the central defensive roles on a regular basis.
Boro are also interested in signing long-term Blues target Daryl Murphy from Sunderland, according to sources in Ireland.