AITOR KARANKA is weighing up ways of boosting Middlesbrough’s midfield options this month – and he could soon find his defensive ranks weakened further too.

The Boro head coach has had discussions with the club’s recruitment team to plot a plan of action this month, particularly in light of the exits of Bruno Zuculini and Jack Stephens. Bolton’s Mark Davies figures prominently as a midfield target.

Manchester City have recalled Zuculini while Southampton have been happy for Stephens to return, with Ronald Koeman voicing his frustration at his player’s lack of playing time.

Stephens has only made five appearances since making a season-long loan and four of those have been in the Capital One Cup.

Koeman said: “Jack is back from Middlesbrough. He wasn’t playing there and then why is he on loan if he doesn’t play? It’s better for him to come back.”

It has now emerged that Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink, the Queens Park Rangers boss, has raised the possibility of ending Tomas Kalas’ loan from Chelsea early for him to head to Loftus Road instead.

Kalas has lost his place at right-back in recent weeks, with Emilio Nsue’s excellent performances seeing him hold down that role in the team more often than not in recent months.

Karanka will be loath to lose the Czech Republic defender, who can also play at centre-back, knowing he has already lost Stephens from his backline recruits as well as Zuculini.

The Middlesbrough boss has been satisfied with his loan signings, but if Kalas was to follow those out of the exit door then he would just have Diego Fabbrini and Fernando Amorebieta as loan deals left – and he is allowed five in a match-day squad.

Patrick Bamford, expected to leave Chelsea again on loan, remains an option to fill one of the slots despite strong interest from other clubs, but Karanka will be keen to weigh up other additions too.

Bolton midfielder Mark Davies is highest in the thinking to come in and replace Zuculini and a loan with a view to a permanent arrangement could be an option.

It is that sort of stance which Huddersfield have taken by informing Mustapha Carayol that he can return to Teesside after having his loan cut short.

Carayol has had a decent stint with the Terriers and has scored in two of his last four outings for them, but that has not been enough to persuade manager David Wagner to keep him.

Wagner felt there were already enough wide-men in the Huddersfield squad and sending Carayol back to Middlesbrough gives him an extra loan somewhere else in his squad.

Karanka is now expected to look to offload the winger again because he is out of contract in the summer. Brighton and Nottingham Forest have previously shown an interest.

Middlesbrough can head into this Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Burnley knowing that they hold a four-point lead at the top of the Championship and have a game in hand ahead of next Tuesday’s trip to Brentford in the Championship.