DUTCH midfielder Marten de Roon is due on Teesside to complete a £12m move to Middlesbrough as Aitor Karanka closes in on his third signing of the summer.

De Roon emerged as a Boro target a fortnight ago and after discussions between the two clubs there has been a breakthrough over a fee for the middle man.

The 25-year-old, who has told those close to him he is excited about a move to the Premier League, is expected to undergo a medical and finalise a four-year contract with Middlesbrough, reportedly worth double what he is earning in Italy.

De Roon is renowned for being a tough tackler and was a player Middlesbrough were aware of before he completed a move from Heerenveen to Atalanta 12 months ago.

Despite being a key performer during his 36 appearances for the Italian club, Atalanta are willing to sell after their valuation was met to enable coach Gian Piero Gasperini to bring in more new signings.

Middlesbrough’s spending power - helped by promotion back to the Premier League – has enabled them to go big on de Roon and it gives Atalanta somewhere near to the 15m euros they were looking for.

The 25-year-old was one of Karanka’s main transfer targets of the summer and has ambitions to play for Holland, having not been able to follow up Under-19s appearances for his country with a full international cap.

There are not expected to be any issues to complicate the deal and de Roon’s imminent arrival will put pressure on holding midfielders Grant Leadbitter and Adam Clayton.

Middlesbrough have already signed winger Viktor Fischer from Ajax for £3.8m and defender Bernardo Espinosa is due to arrive as a free agent on July 1 after leaving Sporting Gijon.

Karanka is seeing more new recruits. He is known to be interested in Belgium’s Euro 2016 full-back Thomas Meunier, whose performances are attracting interest from a number of clubs across Europe.

There has been a link to another Belgian, with Ghent’s keeper Matz Sels linked to a number of Premier League clubs including Southampton, Everton and Swansea. Former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 34, is another alternative as a free agent.