MIDDLESBROUGH are close to making another high-profile addition after agreeing a £6.5m deal for West Ham striker Ashley Fletcher.

Fletcher has been given permission to leave West Ham’s training camp in Germany, and is set for talks with Boro officials within the next 24 hours. He will also undergo a medical at Boro’s Rockliffe Park training ground, and will be available for the opening game of the Championship season next weekend.

Despite spending more than £24m on Britt Assombalonga and Martin Braithwaite this summer, Boro boss Garry Monk was always keen to add another forward to his ranks following the departure of Alvaro Negredo and Cristhian Stuani since the end of last term.

Fletcher became available when West Ham completed the capture of former Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez and Stoke attacker Marko Arnautovic, and Boro’s recruitment team have moved quickly to seal a deal.

Fletcher had also been interesting Premier League new-boys Brighton and Huddersfield Town, but despite their status in the Championship, Boro have beat off the competition to land the 21-year-old.

Keighley-born Fletcher began his career as a trainee in Manchester United’s academy, and joined West Ham last summer after turning down the offer of a contract at Old Trafford.

An England Under-20 international, he made two Premier League starts and 14 substitute appearances last season, and scored his only West Ham goal in the EFL Cup.