All the latest transfer talk from the North-East and beyond ...

MIDDLESBROUGH

How will Tony Pulis spend a chunk of the £40m raised by player sales wisely before tomorrow at 5pm?

It’s a big ask and one that Middlesbrough fans are hoping he can deliver with – and West Ham’s Jordan Hugill is set to be the first arrival in the next 24 hours, likely in a £2m loan deal.

Everton’s Yannick Bolasie is a leading target to replace Adama Traore, given how the Toffee winger has the pace that Pulis’ squad is now lacking down the flanks.

But Middlesbrough have more players in mind too. Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo remains an option, while Matt Ritchie at Newcastle is too. The finances of deals such as Ritchie and Bolasie might be trickier to do.

QPR midfielder Luke Freeman and Bristol City defender Joe Bryan are both still in Middlesbrough’s sights, but Pulis is desperate for attacking reinforcements.

Britt Assombalonga and Martin Braithwaite are playing up front at the moment but ideally Pulis would strengthen that area of the pitch. West Ham’s Hugill should be the first though.

Middlesbrough have also been linked with a former academy player of theirs. Birger Meling never made a first team appearance during his time in the North-East and was moved out a few years ago when he headed back to his homeland to play for Staebek.

Since then he has made a name for himself and now, aged 23, he is playing for Rosenborg and Middlesbrough are one of the clubs looking at the left-back. He is a Norway international and faced Celtic in the Champions League qualifier this month.

SUNDERLAND

The Black Cats are not going to be anywhere near as busy as their Teesside counterparts on deadline day.

In fact, it is likely to be more about players leaving that those arriving.

And it has emerged that manager Jack Ross is now coming around to the way of thinking he can keep Bryan Oviedo.

The likeable Costa Rican has been told he could leave this summer and he was happy to play at a higher level following his World Cup showing.

But his performance as a substitute against Charlton on Saturday has persuaded Ross that he could be a valuable asset to the promotion push.

The same cannot be said for the likes of Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong. Both men are still not training on Wearside and are looking for moves away. Turkey and France appears to be the likeliest destination, provided fees can be agreed and wages met.

Hull City are also in contact with Sunderland to try to strike a deal for Lee Cattermole.

NEWCASTLE

Rafa Benitez knows the Magpies are in need of defensive additions and Swansea’s Federico Fernandez has emerged as a target.

Swansea want £10m for the centre-back, who would come in handy following the departure of Chancel Mbemba and the injury to Florian Lejeune.

The big problem is that Newcastle want to do business for around the £3m mark and that in itself makes it difficult to happen.

Swansea have already lost a number of players this season but they are keen to address their wage bill by offloading high earners like Fernandez. It has ben suggested that Newcastle and Swansea could come up with a performance-related fee package to get things sorted.

Newcastle are also looking at a younger option and it is being claimed in France that personal terms have been agreed with Sikou Niakate.

Niakate, 19, has been impressing for Valenciennes over the last year and has caught the eye of a number of clubs, having come through the ranks at Paris St Germain initially.

France is also where Newcastle are interested in signing another 19-year-old, this time from Lyon and his name is Myziane Maolida. French paper L’Equipe claim Newcastle are close to signing the striker.

OTHER CLUBS …

Paul Pogba wants a £200,000-a-week pay rise to stay at Manchester United.

Cardiff will battle Newcastle and two teams from the Championship to sign Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter.

Maurizio Sarri has hinted both Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will stay at Chelsea.

Joe Hart's arrival at Burnley could push Tom Heaton towards the exit door with Sean Dyche expected to sell one of the club's three England goalkeepers.

Watford have made a £10m offer for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

Leicester are on the verge of signing two centre-backs, with Filip Benkovic having had a medical on Tuesday and recent Arsenal target Caglar Soyuncu also close to joining.

Everton are confident they can sign Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on loan if they are unable to complete a move for Yerry Mina by Thursday's deadline.

Crystal Palace and Fulham are keen to sign Swansea striker Jordan Ayew, who is refusing to train with his club.

Birmingham City are closing on the signing of Cardiff City goalkeeper Lee Camp.

Giannelli Imbula is close to a loan move to Levante from Stoke City.

Fulham have offered £8m for Hugo Mallo, the Celta Vigo right-back.