Middlesbrough are close to acquiring the services of Leicester City centre-back Filip Benkovic on a short-term loan deal, but a move for former player Ben Gibson looks unlikely.
Benkovic has been touted repeatedly for a potential loan move away from the King Power Stadium, with Brendan Rodgers willing to let the defender go as soon as they sign a replacement.
The 22-year-old has played just one game all season for the Foxes - a 2-0 home victory against Wigan in the FA Cup - and is being lined up by Middlesbrough to help mount an unlikely late promotion charge.
According to the Daily Mail, Boro are strong favourites to bring the Croat to Riverside until the summer, with the centre-half valued at approximately £13m.
Despite sitting in 17th in the Championship, the former Premier League club are just nine points off the play-offs. Jonathan Woodgate has already signed three players this January with Patrick Roberts, Lukas Nmecha and Dejan Stojanovic all having bolstered Middlesbrough's ranks.
However, former England defender Woodgate is still aiming to strengthen his back line before the window shuts, but a deal for Benkovic will hinge on Leicester's ability to find an adequate replacement.
Former player Gibson, currently on the fringes of the Burnley squad, has also been linked with a return to Boro, but that deal looks increasingly unlikely.
According to the Northern Echo, Gibson, despite being surplus to requirements under Sean Dyche, is too expensive an acquisition, with his £50k-a-week wages making a return to Riverside near impossible this transfer window.
Gibson was a Middlesbrough player the last time the club were in the top flight, but decided on a £15m move to Turf Moor back in August 2018. The England youth international has made just one Premier League appearance for the Clarets this campaign.
Source: 90min
