GASTON RAMIREZ should be confirmed as Middlesbrough’s latest signing in the next 24 hours, with head coach Aitor Karanka admitting it will be ‘great’ to have him back.

The Uruguayan playmaker is close to a return to the Teesside club after an agreement was reached with Penarol, who he had signed a pre-contract deal with before joining Boro last season on loan, and he has had encouraging news on his application for a work permit.

The Northern Echo:

Middlesbrough's Alex Pattison is congratulated on scoring his team's second goal during the pre-season friendly match at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster

Ramirez, who has had a frustrating couple of years in the Premier League with Southampton, would join fellow new recruits Victor Valdes, Viktor Fischer, Marten de Roon, Bernardo Espinosa, Antonio Barragan in joining the Middlesbrough squad since the end of last season.

Karanka will look for Ramirez, an instrumental part of the promotion charge after moving temporarily from the Saints, to recapture the form he showed in his first few months in the North-East.

“It would be great (to have him back) but it's football and something that doesn't happen in one month can sometimes happen in one day,” said Karanka, speaking after yesterday’s 2-0 win at Doncaster.

“He wasn’t here at Doncaster, I would like him to be here as soon as possible, but that's football.”

With Ramirez’s deal set to be confirmed, Middlesbrough will be looking to take him to Marbella tomorrow when they also expect to have Alvaro Negredo join up with them at some point after a season long loan was agreed with Valencia.

Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic is just waiting for a work permit to complete his switch to Teesside.

He said: “Yes we are hoping for more but football is football, and I don't want to think about what's going to happen in the next few days. You never know what can happen, so for that reason I'm just working with the players who we have here.

“The transfer progress has been amazing. The club has been working really well and the best example is the players we have now. Now we have to do well on the pitch and get everyone as soon as possible together. It will be the best for everybody.”

Karanka will take his squad to the Marbella Football Center this week for three friendlies and training. Albert Adomah and Grant Leadbitter will both travel while they recover from injuries.

The Middlesbrough boss said: “Albert will be with the team in Marbella, Grant will be a little longer. It's a problem with his hernia.

“But he's strong and knows he's important even when he's not on the pitch. He's big for the changing room and for that reason he's coming to Marbella. Last season I said he was the character of this team and this season it's the same.

“I don't know how long for Dani Ayala, it may be one week or two weeks, but I don't know. Hopefully he will soon be with us.”