MIDDLESBROUGH have not given up on persuading Ipswich Town to part with the Championship’s top scorer Daryl Murphy as Aitor Karanka prepares to welcome his squad back for pre-season training.

Boro - who are close to confirming the signing of Bolton defender Alex Baptiste - return to Rockliffe Park on Monday morning to begin their preparations for the new campaign which starts in just over a month’s time.

There will be no new faces in the ranks at this stage, but Karanka is being kept informed of developments on a regular basis as he waits to hear of a significant breakthrough in attempts to strengthen his squad.

And while the pursuit of Stewart Downing remains strong, it has emerged that former Sunderland striker Murphy is very much in Middlesbrough’s thinking despite suggestions that Ipswich have knocked back their advances so far.

Karanka and chairman Steve Gibson are keen to have a forward capable of slotting straight into the Championship and able to immediately cause defences problems and score goals.

The likes of Norwich strikers Gary Hooper and Cameron Jerome have been discussed after Blackburn’s refusal to budge on a £12m-rated asking price for Jordan Rhodes, Brentford's Andre Gray is another mentioned.

He scored more goals than anyone else in the Championship last season and two of his 27 arrived in both outings against Boro.

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy has publicly declared he will do everything he can to keep him, although there is also a feeling at Portman Road that the 32-year-old’s value will never be higher with just 12 months remaining on his contract, despite the option of a further year.

Middlesbrough made an initial approach a fortnight ago, with left-back James Husband interesting McCarthy as a possible replacement for Tyrone Mings following his £8m switch to Bournemouth. Husband could form a key part of the bargaining, even though he only moved from Doncaster for £500,000 a year ago.

Murphy has already enjoyed a five-year fruitful spell in the North-East after joining Sunderland from Irish side Waterford United in a £100,000 deal in June 2005.

But at Ipswich, where he moved initially on loan in 2011, he has proven to be one of the most dangerous strikers outside of the Premier League.

Middlesbrough are determined to add at least one new striker to their ranks this summer but they appear to have Jelle Vossen further down the list.

The Belgium international, who spent last season on loan at the Riverside, joined in with Genk’s first day of pre-season training yesterday after holding talks over a move to Burnley.

The Clarets are trying to reach an agreement over a fee for the 26-year-old who Boro could have had had they taken advantage of a first refusal clause for £2.2m. Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and Club Brugge are all thought to be keen.

Baptiste, meanwhile, is 29 and is seen as a player capable of playing anywhere across the back four which provides decent options for Karanka.