MIDDLESBROUGH are close to completing their second signing of the summer after Bernardo Espinosa confirmed he will not be extending his stay at Sporting Gijon.

Boro, who have already signed Viktor Fischer from Ajax, are one of four clubs to have been tracking Espinosa since the end of last season, with the 26-year-old defender due to become a free agent at the end of this month.

Espinosa’s representatives have already called off discussions with Bournemouth and Watford, leaving Boro embroiled in a straight fight with Sporting Gijon.

Gijon have offered Espinosa a new deal, but the Colombian yesterday revealed he has rejected the opportunity to remain at the La Liga club, who he first joined on loan in 2013.

He has made more than 110 senior appearances for Gijon, but is keen to embrace a new challenge in England, with further talks with Middlesbrough planned for the start of next week.

“My decision is not to continue (with Sporting Gijon),” said Espinosa, who is a product of Sevilla’s youth academy. “I wanted to wait until my body, my mind and my soul were ready.

“It’s been a very difficult decision, but (moving to England) is a personal adventure. I’ve always wanted to play there, but Real Sporting has been in my head until the last second.

“I just want to say thank you to the club due to their efforts trying to convince me to stay here. But I’m going to the Premier League.”

Espinosa’s representatives held an initial round of talks with Boro officials earlier this week, and with no transfer fee to agree with another club, it is hoped a deal can be finalised in the next few days.

The centre-half will provide competition for Daniel Ayala and Ben Gibson, who are expected to start next season as Boro’s first-choice centre-halves, and will bolster a defensive unit that has lost Tomas Kalas, who has returned to his parent club Chelsea, and Jonathan Woodgate, who was released at the end of his contract.

Boro have been offered the opportunity to sign Radamel Falcao, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at Manchester United and Chelsea from Monaco, but are not understood to have an interest in the 30-year-old striker.