JAMES MORRISON is set to stay at West Bromwich Albion after Middlesbrough decided against following up initial interest in the midfielder.

The recently turned 30-year-old is due to become a free agent and there have been a number of clubs who have monitored the situation.

Middlesbrough were one of those because the Darlington-born playmaker had been open to the idea of moving closer to his roots and he was under serious consideration at the Riverside, where he still has a good relationship with chairman Steve Gibson and chief scout Gary Gill.

But Middlesbrough, despite a return to the Premier League riches, are keen to be careful with the money they have after learning from the mistakes of the past when they had to make huge savings following relegation from the top-flight in 2009.

There were suggestions Middlesbrough had offered him a whopping £70,000-a-week pay packet and a £2m signing on fee, although that was never the case.

Sources close to West Brom are claiming Morrison has agreed a new £38,000-a-week deal and is set to confirm his decision to stay at The Hawthorns, where he has played since Tony Mowbray signed him in 2007.

He is West Brom’s longest serving player and despite only playing 19 games last season he was someone Tony Pulis was always keen to keep.

Aitor Karanka, the Middlesbrough head coach, is looking to strengthen his midfield and it has emerged that Atalanta’s Marten de Roon is under consideration.

The 25-year-old anchor man would be competition for Grant Leadbitter and Adam Forshaw but would not come cheap, with the Italian club demanding around £10m for him.

But Atalanta are happy enough to raise the funds from selling the Dutchman so that they can have extra cash to keep other members of the first team squad they are more determined to keep.

Middlesbrough were aware of him when he was with Heerenveen but the 6ft 1in midfielder has become an influential player for Atalanta, who have also been contacted by Napoli and Lazio about his availability.