Transfer round-up: Boro focus on these THREE areas after record deal, Magpies in for ex-Sunderland and Liverpool man, plus Black Cats consider Brighton winger

HAVING smashed the club record to complete the signing of Britt Assombalonga last night, manager Garry Monk is in no mood to stop spending money there.

Assombalonga was Monk’s main attacking target after agreeing to take over and he has successfully been delivered after being backed in the market by chairman Steve Gibson.

Monk has also landed Jonny Howson, Cyrus Christie and Martin Braithwaite on permanent deals, so Gibson has taken the club’s spending over the £30m mark on fees alone.

But the Middlesbrough boss also wants a new goalkeeper, with Newcastle’s Karl Darlow the main target, and Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo is seen as a brilliant loan option.

Target: Karl Darlow

Newcastle are ready to step up their pursuit of Ojo now, though, after landing Jacob Murphy, so it will depend on whether Liverpool want to sell him or let him go on loan.

Monk wants another defender too, who can play centrally and those three areas will be where the focus is.

There will also be players leaving. Stewart Downing is set for talks with Birmingham today and that is a deal that should happen.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Rafa Benitez is confident Magpies chief Mike Ashley will carry on spending in the remaining six weeks of the transfer window after landing Jacob Murphy from Norwich.

The Canaries forward has arrived in Ireland to join up with the Newcastle squad after the two clubs agreed a fee potentially rising to £12.5m, with £10m paid initially.

Norwich had hoped for £16m but Newcastle have managed to broker a compromise and Murphy will become Benitez’s third signing of the summer, following Christian Atsu and Florian Lejeune to Tyneside.

WANTED? Javier Manquillo

It has also been claimed in Spain that Newcastle are offering former Liverpool full-back Javier Manquillo, who spent last year on loan at Sunderland, a three-year deal. Talks have taken place and a deal looks on the cards.

Benitez is keen to move on a number of players over the next few weeks to free up more room for new players, believing he needs many more for his side to avoid a relegation struggle.

Middlesbrough are still in the hunt for goalkeeper Darlow, although they are refusing to pay the £8m being demanded at St James’ Park. The likes of Emmanuel Riviere, Tim Krul and Grant Hanley are also available.

Among the players still in Benitez’s sights to sign are Liverpool’s youngster Ojo and they are weighing up a £10m offer knowing that the Reds would prefer him to join Boro if it is on loan.

SUNDERLAND

Simon Grayson takes his Sunderland players to Hartlepool tonight looking to give more minutes to his new signings.

Grayson has made progress on the recruitment front over the last week, following up the signatures of Ty Browning and Brendan Galloway with Aiden McGeady and James Vaughan.

He does not want the list of new arrivals to stop there, though, and remains in the market as he looks to bolster different areas of his squad.

LINKED: Brighton's Jamie Murphy

It has emerged Brighton winger Jamie Murphy is one of those under consideration. The 27-year-old Scot, who also has interest in him from Rangers and Celtic, has been looking for a new contract on the south coast.

He played 40 times during the promotion winning season with the Seagulls but Chris Hughton knows his squad needs major improvements to stay in the Premier League.

Murphy is valued at around the £4m mark and has shown he can handle life in the Championship. Fulham are also keen.

OTHER CLUBS

Chelsea's search for a striker looks set to hit more problems and they are ready to pull the plug on their pursuit of Alvaro Morata.

The Blues appeared ready to pay £63m for the Real Madrid player, but the Stamford Bridge hierarchy have had second thoughts, leaving AC Milan as frontrunners for his signature.

DEAL: Ivan Perisic

Manchester United are enjoying a much better time of it in the transfer market and hope to tie up a £44m deal for Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic.

Perisic is thought to be keen on a move to Old Trafford and hopes to get the deal done in time to join up with United for their tour of the United States.

Jose Mourinho looks like missing out on Tottenham's Eric Dier but could be ready for one last-ditch attempt to get their man.

Spurs are holding firm in their desire to keep the England international, but it is claimed they are lining up a final offer of £60m.

It has also been reported Crystal Palace are trying to sign Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere on loan.

The Selhurst Park club are also closing in on Ajax defender Jairo Riedwald, who will cost around £8m.