MIDDLESBROUGH

GARRY MONK has edged nearer an exciting £23m attacking double after Middlesbrough made significant progress in the pursuit of Martin Braithwaite and Britt Assombalonga.

The Northern Echo understands Boro have agreed a fee in the region of £9m for Braithwaite with Toulouse.

And sources in Denmark, where the 26-year-old is from and has represented his country 16 times, claim the forward is set for Teesside rather than Germany where there is also interest in him.

Braithwaite has become the Toulouse captain during his four years after moving from Esbjerg for less than £2m in 2013. He can play in any of the attacking roles and is the French club’s star man.

The Northern Echo:

THREAT: Martin Braithwaite 

He could be linking up with Assombalonga next season. Middlesbrough, although remaining tight-lipped while in the Algarve where they drew with Oxford last night, have edged ahead of their rivals for the Nottingham Forest striker.

It is believed there has been a £14m fee agreed for the 24-year-old and he will complete a move once Forest return from Florida on Friday, provided there are no late hiccups.

Watford and Burnley have also been keen but have not been prepared to pay the asking price, while a report in Ireland has suggested Middlesbrough are set to give him £60,000-a-week. Monk is also confident of bringing in Liverpool youngster Sheyi Ojo.

The Northern Echo: Huddersfield's winning goal is headed home by James Vaughan. PICTURES BY KEITH GILLARD.

SCORER: James Vaughan, who played at Huddersfield under Grayson, could be on his way to Sunderland 

SUNDERLAND

SIMON GRAYSON is closing in on two more players but Middlesbrough could be about to inadvertently end the Wearside push for a third.

Boro’s deal for Braithwaite means Toulouse will soon have a bit more money to spend as they try to land Max Gradel.

The Ivorian winger has had a dismal spell at Bournemouth and is wanted by Sunderland and Leeds United.

Nantes and Toulouse are also keen to take him back to France, where the latter will soon be armed with more spending power and Gradel fancies returning across the English Channel.

Grayson is nearing two more signings, though. He has confirmed Sunderland are in talks over a deal for Bury’s 24-goal hot-shot James Vaughan.

The former Everton striker has been the subject of a couple of bids and the latest is believed to be around the £900,000 mark. Bury are understood to be asking for £1.5m.

Aiden McGeady, the Everton winger, is closer to a move to Sunderland. It is thought he has agreed a compromise with Everton over the remaining year of his contract and can complete his switch this week.

NEWCASTLE UNITED 

Rafa Benitez has been told Newcastle United have upped their initial offer for Norwich’s Jacob Murphy to £10m – still £6m short of the asking price.

The England Under-21s forward is high in Benitez’s shopping list but he has so far hit a brick wall in his attempts to sign him, just as he has so often this summer.

The Northern Echo: Swindon Town target Jacob Murphy

WANTED: Jacob Murphy

His frustrations are growing with the days ticking by until the start of the new campaign and Florian Lejeune is the only new face on board following promotion.

Newcastle are still trying. They have put the feelers out on a number of fronts but a reluctance to pay the asking prices has caused major problems so far.

Bordeaux forward Diego Rolan was another name linked recently and he is close to a move to Fulham. Newcastle had never earmarked him as a top target though.

Newcastle striker Emmanuel Riviere, who has had a torrid time during his two years on Tyneside, is still training with the club but is interesting Metz.

OTHER CLUBS

Chelsea are favourites to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, after Tianjin Quanjin pulled out of a move for the Gabon forward, although AC Milan remain interested.

There are reports Borussia Dortmund are weighing up a move for Arsenal's Olivier Giroud as a replacement for Aubameyang.

Remaining with Chelsea, Eden Hazard has contacted Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane to tell him he will be remaining at Stamford Bridge for at least one more season.

Leicester are planning a clear out of last summer's transfer failures, with Islam Slimani, Ahmed, Nampalys Mendy and Bartosz Kapustka all set to follow Ron-Robert Zieler in leaving the Foxes.

Musa has attracted interest from the Premier League and abroad, while Bordeaux are pursuing Mendy.

Real Madrid have given up on their attempts to sign Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, and will now turn their attention to Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga.