Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick says on-loan Blues defender George Edmundson, who the Teessiders are trying to sign on a permanent basis this month, has done fantastically well during his spell at the Riverside.
Edmundson, 27, whose Town contract is up in the summer, joined Boro in August and has impressed, with a number of Championship clubs understood to have taken note of his performances.
However, the former Oldham and Rangers man can’t play for a third team this season under FIFA rules, having featured briefly for the Blues against Manchester City, and the Teessiders are trying to steal a march on other interested sides by signing him on a permanent basis now rather than waiting until the summer.
As TWTD revealed earlier in the week, Town have rebuffed an offer of £350,000 now and a further £350,000 if Boro are promoted plus further add-ons, but talks between the clubs continue.
"George has done really well. We brought him in on loan. It was one of those where it fitted all parties,” Carrick said.
"I've said it a number of times, it's not always simple, there's a lot of parties involved. Sometimes you go in and you know exactly what you're getting out, sometimes it's a little bit in the balance.
"George has done fantastically well for us. He's settled in really well. We're really happy with him. I think it's getting the balance right as well, in terms of recruitment and the dynamics of the squad. That's really important.
"Spread of age is one thing, types of experience is something else as well. It's a different thing. It's not always an age thing, it depends what you've gone through and the types of experiences you'd had. We're conscious of that to try and get the balance right moving forward.”