MIDDLESBROUGH have discussed a possible deal for Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan, a move that could have serious repercussions for Dimi Konstantopoulos’ position at the club.

Boro have already signed World Cup winning goalkeeper Victor Valdes this summer, with the former Barcelona shot-stopper expected to start the club’s opening Premier League game against Stoke City in two-and-a-half weeks’ time.

However, head coach Aitor Karanka is seriously considering signing another goalkeeper despite already having Konstantopoulos and Tomas Mejias in his first-team squad.

Boro officials have discussed Guzan’s position at Villa Park on a number of occasions in the last week or so, and have been told that Roberto Di Matteo is ready to release the 31-year-old on a free transfer in order to trim the wage bill at Villa Park.

Guzan has entered the final year of his current contract with Villa, who were relegated after finishing at the foot of the Premier League last season, and Di Matteo does not envisage him having a future in the Championship.

Guzan, who joined Villa from the United States eight years ago, has endured a difficult last 12 months, with a string of error-strewn performances resulting in him losing his place to Mark Bunn in the final weeks of last season.

Villa have signed highly-rated Italian Pierluigi Gollini this summer, and Guzan has been deemed surplus to requirements as a result.

However, Karanka is understood to rate him highly, and is ready to offer him a move to Teesside provided wages can be agreed.

He would arrive as further cover to Valdes, a situation that would suggest Konstantopoulos’ first-team chances are likely to be limited next season.

Konstantopoulos triggered a one-year extension to his previous one-year deal when he made his 20th appearance of last season in February, and was a key figure as Boro claimed promotion to the top-flight.

He will turn 38 in November though, and Karanka appears to be planning a succession process that will see him play a less prominent role in the new campaign.

Meanwhile, Karanka has admitted Daniel Ayala is a major doubt for next month’s Premier League opener as he continues to struggle with an ankle injury.

Ayala has not played in any of Boro’s pre-season games, with Karanka admitting the centre-half is not expected to join in full training until the end of next week at the earliest.

That would leave him just a week to get up to speed for the start of the new campaign, and with a proposed deal for Neven Subotic having collapsed when the Borussia Dortmund defender failed a medical, Karanka could have to pair either Alex Baptiste or Bryn Morris with Ben Gibson for the game against Stoke.

“Dani is working with the physios and I hope he will be with us as soon as possible, but I don’t think it is going to be for another week or ten days,” said the Boro boss. “I hope he will be ready for the start of the season, but with this kind of injury, you never know.

“We have to keep calm because, for me, it is important to wait one more week if required rather than to take a chance and get injured again.”