MIDDLESBROUGH are prepared to keep Albert Adomah beyond this evening’s transfer deadline rather than sell on the cheap after his bust-up with head coach Aitor Karanka.

While Adomah's wish to leave could be granted today if an interested club matches a £4m valuation, the chances of him departing have taken a slight knock because of West Ham’s £7m offer for Nottingham Forest’s Michail Antonio yesterday.

The Forest winger has been a Boro target throughout the summer and a player of his power and pace would be an ideal replacement for Adomah at the Riverside.

A possible part-exchange deal was mooted, but the prospect of Antonio heading for a Premier League switch later today would end Karanka’s hopes of landing him.

Given the lack of a natural, pacy winger to play down Boro's right flank there is reluctance to sell for less than the asking price for the sake of it - even if the player has a desire to go.

Queens Park Rangers are known to be keen, depending on whether or not they can offload Matt Phillips and West Brom are expected to move for him before the 6pm deadline.

Adomah’s former club Bristol City, who have greater ambitions these days highlighted by bids they have made for targets this summer, are interested in taking him back to Ashton Gate.

But Boro are not thought to have received an official offer at this stage for the Ghana international, who handed in a transfer request last week after a verbal clash with Karanka following the defeat to Bristol City ten days ago.

If Adomah does move on then that could well spark Boro into action on the recruitment front, although nothing is imminent for highly-rated Cypriot winger Andreas Makris.

The 19-year-old - named in Cyprus’ squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers with Wales and Belgium - has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs over the last 12 months, but suggestions that Boro have made a bid for the teenager have been denied.

A short statement from Makris’ club Anorthosis Famagusta read: “Nobody has made contact with us and we have not received any bid for Andreas.”

Karanka successfully used the loan system last season and he will do so again, with Football League clubs still able to sign players on loan seven days after the transfer window shuts. Tottenham’s Alex Pritchard – who impressed last season on loan at Brentford – is one of those who Middlesbrough fancy.

Boro, meanwhile, will not be coming up against former player Jelle Vossen this season. The Belgium international has left Burnley less than two months after his decision to join the Clarets.

Burnley are understood to have recouped the £2.5m they paid to Genk in July. Vossen has joined Club Brugge, who had been interested in signing him before he opted for Turf Moor.