MIDDLESBROUGH are on the verge of pulling off their first signing since sealing a return to the Premier League after Ajax’s Danish winger Viktor Fischer touched down on Teesside.

Aitor Karanka, the head coach, is being kept up-to-date on a regular basis by chief executive Neil Bausor and technical director Victor Orta of any progress on the transfer front.

Fischer, who trained with the Denmark squad before flying across the North Sea for advanced talks with his agent Soren Lerby, looks set to get a summer of adjustment for the top-flight underway at the Riverside and it is hoped there will be plenty more before August.

Essel Sport advisor Steinar Dietz, who looks after the £3.8m man with Lerby, said earlier in the day: “The clubs have agreed a fee of €5m and now Viktor, Søren and Kaj (Lerby) are heading by plane to Middlesbrough in order to negotiate personal terms. Other clubs have shown interest but we have opted for Middlesbrough.”

Sources close to Fischer claim the 21-year-old will sign a four-year deal provided there are no late hiccups, although Middlesbrough sources claim nothing is finalised at this stage.

Boro are not looking to make wholesale changes to the squad that delivered promotion from the Championship, but there is an acceptance greater quality is required to strengthen the pool of players he has to call on.

Karanka hopes to add more Premier League experience, which is why the likes of James Morrison is being targeted ahead of becoming a free agent at West Brom.

There have also been links with Newcastle’s £5m-rated Cheik Tiote and West Ham’s Michael Antonio.

But Boro are also keen to target players from abroad, like they have in signing the likes of Julien de Sart, Jelle Vossen, Cristhian Stuani and Carlos de Pena in the past.

Not all of the continental recruits have been a success but, given Orta’s experience of the European market and the scouting Gary Gill has carried out across Europe in recent years, Middlesbrough hope to pull out a couple of gems this summer.

Ajax have given permission for Riverside chiefs to try to finalise a deal for Fischer after the clubs met on a fee in the region of £3.8m. The 21-year-old has a year remaining on his contract and hinted recently he could leave.

Fischer is on duty with Denmark, who he has played eight times for, ahead of the friendly with Bosnia on June 3. He scored eight times for Ajax this season even though his head coach, Frank de Boer, used him sparingly.

The left-winger signed for Ajax after impressing for the Danish Under-17s at the World Cup amid interest from Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.

In his first year at the Dutch giants he was top scorer as he helped them to the final of the Under-20s Champions League, which was when Orta and other clubs showed greater interest.

This season has been frustrating as he struggled with a hamstring problem.

Fischer recently said: “I’m ready to prove myself again, but probably somewhere else. I think that it is a mutual desire. We still have something to talk about.”

Morrison is known to be another high in the club’s thinking. The 29-year-old has not agreed fresh terms with West Brom, is expected to leave and could move closer to his Darlington roots. Sunderland are also keen.

Boro have confirmed the departure of Jonathan Woodgate, Rhys Williams and Damia Abella following the end of their contracts.

Williams had earlier agreed to return to his native Australia to join Perth Glory. Woodgate leaves after making 112 appearances for his hometown club, although his only outing this season came against Burton Albion in the Capital One Cup.

The 36-year-old is unlikely to get another playing contract and is expected to call time on his career.