AITOR KARANKA has confirmed that Middlesbrough are ready to step up efforts to land ‘the right’ attacking player after it emerged Queens Park Rangers’ winger Matt Phillips is also on the club’s radar.

Boro have identified a new defensive midfielder, with Benfica’s Swede Victor Lindelof an option, as a priority this month, but Karanka would love to land an exciting forward to give the promotion charge an extra lift.

Middlesbrough are have been in touch with Fulham to discuss the availability of long-term target Ross McCormack, although chairman Steve Gibson will not give the go-ahead for a deal that does not seem good value.

McCormack is valued at more than £10m by the Cottagers, which is understood to be more than Boro are willing to pay, while it was widely reported yesterday that a £6m offer has been made for QPR’s former Blackpool man Phillips.

“If a good player, a good opportunity for us can come then yes,” said Karanka, when asked if he was keen to try different options in the No 10 role.

“We have Stewart Downing and Diego Fabbrini … Kike Sola can play there so can Adam Forshaw. It is an important position and we have a lot of players.

“But if a good player is available, and it is a good opportunity for the club, for everybody, then I can’t say no. If another good player is coming then it is another good pressure for the players here.

“They need to know it is not easy to play. We have to try to forget about the transfer market until after Saturday.”

Karanka, keen to avoid discussing individual targets, was keen to stress he is not desperate for a big signing before the transfer window closes on February 1, although he did suggest such an arrival could give everyone a lift at just the right time.

“It’s not vital (we get new players) because if it was vital we would have signed three of four players by now,” said Karanka, whose side face Nottingham Forest tomorrow before a free FA Cup weekend.

“But we have a week to think without games about things like that. If we had games Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday then maybe it would be a problem. But we don’t.

“We have a week to focus on new players. We are top of the table so it is not vital to bring in any new players, but in the same way I think we need more to put more pressure on the players here.

“Look at last week, we lost a game (at Bristol City) because the players felt the job was already done. We have to check that at the end. We have to try to do our best.

“I cannot say that one of those players who can boost everyone will arrive because if they don’t arrive then we are the top of the league team, so we have to be careful.

“I can’t say that if we don’t sign an amazing player we will go down (the table) because we already have a good squad. I have the best squad in the league, we are top of the table so for that reason we have to stay calm. These players deserve that I trust them.”

Middlesbrough’s ambition is to return to the Premier League, which has been highlighted by Gibson's investment in Karanka’s squad.

But the Spanish boss has hit back at Burnley midfielder Joey Barton’s comments that Boro have more pressure on them to succeed because of the cash they have laid out.

Karanka, knowing the Clarets spent £9m on striker Andre Gray last summer as they sit seven points behind the Teessiders, said: “They were saying in the summer that the pressure was going to be on us, this is January.

“Last season I said Derby, Norwich or other teams had more pressure because they spent more money than us. This season we have spent but last season they (Burnley) have spent money and this season they have spent money.

“They are going to spend more money. So for them they have more pressure because they are seven points behind us. For us it is not a pressure. They must forget the money they are spending, they just remember the money that other teams are spending.”

Boro, who have learned Birmingham are keen to pay Watford £1.5m to take Diego Fabbrini out of his season-long loan at the Riverside, will look to cement their place at the top of the Championship by defeating Forest tomorrow.

But they will have to do so without defender Ben Gibson for the third game in a row. Karanka said: “He’s not fit and he’s not training with the team. He did his hip in the warm up against Burnley in the FA Cup. He felt pain and since that day he is not able to play.

“It is worse than I thought. He didn’t even play, I could never have imagined you could have done that in that way during the warm up. I think he will not be ready for this game, but hopefully he will be ready for the next game.”

He also revealed that defenders Alex Baptiste and Damia Abella are in full training with the first team squad after long lay-offs. It is hoped both will play for the Under-21s next week.