MIDDLESBROUGH have completed the signing of West Ham striker Jordan Hugill on a season long loan before Thursday’s 5pm transfer deadline, and Everton pair Yannick Bolasie and Mo Besic could still join him at the Riverside Stadium.

While Hugill’s desire to move to his hometown club made that particular deal smoother to conclude, getting things tied up with Bolasie and Besic has been a little trickier.

Interest from Bolasie’s former club Crystal Palace has given the Everton winger something else to think about, but Middlesbrough have shown the most interest in striking a deal.

A permanent transfer as well as a possible loan has been discussed between Everton and Middlesbrough for a player who is now valued at £15m having joined from Palace in a £25m switch two years ago.

Everton are willing to let him go and the challenge is to persuade Bolasie he can fulfil his ambitions on Teesside as he looks to rekindle his best after injury.

And with the window close to shutting, Tony Pulis is pushing ahead with trying to sign Bolasie’s team-mate Besic. The Bosnian enjoyed his time at Middlesbrough on loan last season and Everton are now ready to let him head out again, even if it is initially temporarily after the deadline.

Hugill, on the other hand, was at Rockliffe Park on Wednesday to complete the formalities and West Ham are set to receive a loan fee, reported to be £2m.

The Middlesbrough-born front-man - who grew up supporting the team and used to be a barman in the town while he played non-league football for Marske, Seaham, Consett and Whitby - is a hard-working centre-forward who found the net regularly for Preston before heading to the Hammers in a deal worth £10m in January.

He spent time in loan at Hartlepool United in 2015, scoring the winning goal against Exeter to keep Pools in the Football League.

“It’s been a long time coming and I’m excited to get started,” the 26-year-old told the Boro website. “It’s big move coming to my hometown club, and hopefully I’ll do myself justice.

“It’s something I’ve grown up wanting to do is play for Middlesbrough. I’d break my back to be here, now I want to show people what I can do.”

Middlesbrough manager Pulis is desperate to bring in more fresh faces before the deadline, with Queens Park Rangers midfielder Luke Freeman, rated at £3m, known to be have been on the radar.

An interest has been retained in Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo and Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie, while Burnley seem intent on keeping Sam Vokes now.

Boro are understood to be in talks with Aston Villa about bringing Albert Adomah back to the Riverside. 

Having lost Patrick Bamford, Ben Gibson and Adama Traore within the last ten days for around £40m. Middlesbrough showed they still have quality in their ranks to defeat Sheffield United 3-0, and summer recruit Aden Flint thinks they will be in great shape if Pulis can land the extra men he wants.

Flint said: “We have not mentioned any of the players leaving, that’s football and you can’t do anything about it. Transfers happen.

“I am sure we will be working behind the scenes now to make sure we can bring players in. It showed on Tuesday that we can compete in this league, hopefully if we can add a few more to the squad then that will only make us stronger.

“Ben had obviously been here his whole life, Adama is an unbelievable talent and Pat is a Championship scorer. We got a win on Tuesday without them and hopefully we will bring more in and grow together, get stronger.

“The squad here is fantastic. There are some great players already. We didn’t play our best at Millwall last Saturday, it was a tough place to go, but against Sheffield United under the lights we showed what we can be about.”

The victory over the Blades was achieved with Martin Braithwaite and Britt Assombalonga in attack, two players many expected to leave this month. Pulis made a point of targeting new forwards and he was keen on Ipswich’s Martyn Waghorn.

Waghorn, however, has joined Derby County after a £5m fee, rising to £7.5m, was agreed with the Tractor Boys, even though there was a perception he was keen to head back to the North-East to be closer to his South Shields roots.

He said: “When I spoke to the manager he told me about the plans, the way he sees the club going and how I fitted into the system and team, I thought it was a very attractive proposition.

“I was excited about the project and the direction the club is going in and I just wanted to be part of it.

“I know that Derby have been up and around it over the last few seasons and I’m hoping I can come in and try to help push this club forward and get back to where it wants to be, which is the Premier League. I can’t wait to get started.

“When you see the training facilities and stadium, it’s clear from the off that it is a big club.

“Over the past few years, Derby has been up and around the promotion positions and as an opposition, you know you’re going to have a difficult game.”