MIDDLESBROUGH are poised to announce the signing of Wigan Athletic midfielder Adam Forshaw.

Forshaw, who has also played for Brentford since graduating from Everton's academy, was at Boro's Rockliffe Park training ground this morning to complete the formalities of a £2m switch from the DW Stadium.

The central midfielder is effectively a permanent replacement for Milos Veljkovic, who has returned to Spurs after a loan spell on Teesside, and will swell a central-midfield unit that already boasts Grant Leadbitter, Adam Clayton and Dean Whitehead.

The 23-year-old Liverpudlian is expected to sign a three-and-a-half year deal within the next 24 hours, and should be available for Saturday's promotion clash with his former club, Brentford, at Griffin Park.

He was Brentford's Player of the Year last season, before making a £4m move to Wigan in the summer.

He has scored one goal in 17 appearances for the Latics, but with the Lancashire club struggling in the Championship relegation zone, chairman Dave Whelan has opted to cash in on one of his leading assets before the transfer window closes next week.