MIDDLESBROUGH have been offered the option of making Ivory Coast international Sol Bamba their first signing of the summer.

Bamba, a 30-year-old centre-half, has been told he is surplus to requirements at Italian club Palermo, and has been offered a contract with Leeds United, where he spent the second half of last season on loan.

However, his representatives have contacted senior Middlesbrough officials in an attempt to generate some interest from the Teessiders, who are expected to be in the market for a couple of central defenders this summer.

With Kenneth Omeruo and Fernando Amorebieta having returned to Chelsea and Fulham respectively at the end of their loan deals, and Jonathan Woodgate contemplating his retirement from playing as he increasingly turns his attention towards a coaching career, Boro find themselves short of options at the heart of their back four.

Rhys Williams’ anticipated return from injury would help the situation, although the length of time the Australian has spent on the sidelines means Aitor Karanka will be reluctant to place too much reliance on him next season.

Nathan Ake is expected to join on a season-long loan from Chelsea, but that would still leave the Teessiders needing another centre-half to ensure adequate competition for a gruelling 46-game Championship season.

Boro have toyed with signing Bamba before, most notably during Gordon Strachan’s time at the club when the Ivorian was playing in the SPL with Hibernian, and the previous links explain this week’s attempts to rekindle some interest.

However, with Karanka taking a break in Spain and existing contracts not due to expire before the end of the month, it is unlikely that any major transfer decisions will be taken for at least another couple of weeks.

With right-back another key area that will be addressed this summer, Boro have also been linked with a potential move for Aston Villa full-back Matthew Lowton.

Tim Sherwood will oversee a significant overhaul of the Villa squad following his side’s narrow escape from relegation last season, and Lowton is expected to be one of the casualties.

The 25-year-old has fallen below Alan Hutton and Leonardo Bacuna in the Villa Park pecking order, and sources in the Midlands claim he would be willing to drop down to the Championship in an attempt to secure regular first-team football.