MIDDLESBROUGH have agreed a deal for Ryan Shotton, and are hoping to complete the transfer in time for the Birmingham City defender to be included in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

Despite having made eight signings since the start of the summer, Garry Monk remains keen to make further additions to his squad before the transfer window closes and has been targeting Shotton for a number of weeks.

Boro officials have held a series of discussions with their counterparts at St Andrew’s, and the Birmingham hierarchy finally agreed to sell Shotton at the weekend, having consistently valued the 28-year-old at around £3m.

However, Blues boss Harry Redknapp does not want to sanction the defender’s departure until he has secured a replacement, with talks with Bristol City over Aden Flint understood to be at an advanced stage.

Flint is expected to be confirmed as a Birmingham player shortly, with Boro officials confident they will be able to rubber-stamp Shotton’s switch to the Riverside within the next 48 hours.

Whatever happens later today, Shotton will not be involved in this evening’s home game with Burton Albion, but he could be part of the squad for Saturday’s trip to the City Ground. His arrival will ensure Boro are adequately covered at centre-half, with Dael Fry having partnered Ben Gibson at the heart of the back four on Saturday in the absence of the injured Daniel Ayala.

Stewart Downing is still expected to move in the opposite direction, although Birmingham are yet to agree a financial deal to cover the former England international’s wages.

Monk will be looking to build on Saturday’s win over Sheffield United when he presides over this evening’s game with Burton, and having suggested that dressing-room disharmony was a factor in last season’s struggles, the Boro boss admits rekindling a strong team spirit could be the key to engineering a successful promotion push this term.

Last term, as the Teessiders crashed out of the Premier League under first Aitor Karanka and then Steve Agnew, there were persistent rumours of discontent in the dressing room and splits within a squad that has subsequently been radically restructured.

Monk is reluctant to spend too much time discussing the problems of the past, but admits that much of his pre-season energy has been expended on nurturing a new sense of togetherness.

That unity was apparent on Saturday, as Monk’s players withstood a second-half revival from Sheffield United to claim their first win of the season, and with the games continuing to come thick and fast, the former Leeds and Swansea manager admits it will be imperative that everyone is pulling in the same direction over the next nine months.

When Boro won promotion two years ago, the strength of the bond within the dressing room was regularly cited as a key factor in their success. Having inherited a club back in the second tier, Monk is determined to engender a similar spirit as quickly as possible.

“The most successful changing rooms I have ever been in are the ones where everyone is willing each other on,” said Monk. “You need that desire to play and look after each other. It’s not just about the 11 players on the pitch either, it’s about everyone in the squad.

“It’s that unity that you need, and maybe that was lacking a little bit last year. Maybe that togetherness wasn’t quite there, and that’s what we’re going to need this season.”

Monk has already spent more than £30m this summer, and while the majority of that expenditure has been recouped through the sale of Cristhian Stuani, Gaston Ramirez and Marten de Roon, he has still been one of the most active Championship managers in the transfer market.

An overhaul of the squad was clearly required in the wake of last season’s relegation, and as well as adding quality and experience to the ranks, Monk has also been determined to increase the depth of the resources at his disposal.

“The squad is the most important thing,” he said. “It’s impossible to play a Championship season with just 11 players – a team has never done it.

“Every one of those players will be used – it’s a squad game – but we need a balance in the squad and that’s what we’re trying to achieve. You can see the signs are good, but the Championship doesn’t allow you to rest.”

Having made a winning start to his own competitive career as Boro boss at the Riverside at the weekend, Monk is hoping to build on the win over Sheffield United when Burton visit tonight.

Nigel Clough’s side prop up the embryonic Championship table, having lost their opening two matches, and this evening’s game provides a great opportunity for Boro to cement their position amongst the early promotion contenders.

Monk was pleased with his side’s strong start at the weekend, and while they were unable to maintain their momentum throughout the whole of the game, he will be looking for his players to adopt a positive approach tonight.

“We were on the front foot (against Sheffield United), but we need to do that for longer periods,” he said. “We had a great vibe in the crowd, and that filtered through to the players. There was a good energy and intensity.”

Martin Braithwaite is set to return to the squad tonight, having missed Saturday’s game after suffering in a knock in training at the end of last week.

Middlesbrough (probable, 4-3-3): Randolph; Christie, Fry, Gibson, Friend; Howson, Clayton, Forshaw; Bamford, Assombalonga, Braithwaite.