MIDDLESBROUGH are on the verge of convincing Champions League winner Victor Valdes to join them back in the Premier League after successful talks with the goalkeeper.

In a move that will end Aitor Karanka’s search to add a new goalkeeper to his squad to compete with Dimi Konstantopoulos and Tomas Mejias next season, Valdes is expected for a medical on Teesside before the weekend.

The former Barcelona shot-stopper, aged 34, has already met Karanka and coach Leo Percovich to discuss the Riverside Stadium switch and was impressed by what the head coach had to say.

Despite lucrative offers from elsewhere, including Turkish club Besiktas where he almost moved in January, and strong interest from Sporting Lisbon and Spain, Valdes is more attracted by the Middlesbrough project.

It is understood he would love another crack at the English top-flight having failed to make a success of his time at Manchester United. A fall-out with Louis van Gaal – who introduced him to first team football at Camp Nou in 2004 before an initial clash of personalities – proved costly.

Valdes was critical of van Gaal’s coaching methods in Manchester and that led to him being sent out on loan to Standard Liege, who were the seventh best team in Belgium at the time, until his contract at Old Trafford ended this summer. During his 18-month contract with United he only made two appearances before heading to Liege on loan.

He has had numerous talks with clubs across Europe and had even been linked with Newcastle United following Rafael Benitez’s appointment, but Middlesbrough are the English club which has followed up tentative enquiries.

Valdes has won the Champions League three times with Barcelona, the La Liga title on six occasions as well as being part of Spain’s World Cup and European Championship winning squads.

With such pedigree he is unlikely to be willing to join Middlesbrough as second-choice behind Konstantopoulos, who has returned to pre-season training this week determined to keep his place for his maiden Premier League season.

If Valdes passes a medical and pens a contract after discussing the finer details of a deal then he will become Middlesbrough’s fifth signing since promotion to the Premier League; and the third this week.

Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon completed a £11.75m switch from Atalanta at the beginning of the week and was followed by Hearts defender Jordan McGhee on loan. Karanka had already convinced Danish winger Viktor Fischer to leave Ajax for £3.8m and Bernardo Espinosa to join after leaving Sporting Gijon.

The Middlesbrough boss is not done there, though. He is looking for more new additions before the first Premier League game against Stoke City at the Riverside on August 13.

He is still seeking a new striker for the top-flight because he only has David Nugent, Jordan Rhodes and Cristhian Stuani capable of leading the line at this stage.

There have been strong links with former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, who is angling for a move back to England. Fenerbahce are listening to offers for the 34-year-old, who scored 16 goals in his first season in the Turkish Super Lig.

Leicester City, Arsenal, Crystal Palace and West Ham have been credited with an interest in him, although Middlesbrough are thought to be looking at other targets at this stage despite being made aware of his availability.

Karanka has already been credited with links to former Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo, back at Valencia after spending last season on loan at Sevilla, but there have not been too many new strikers being targeted.

Sources in Italy have claimed that Alberto Grassi has been on Middlesbrough’s radar. The creative midfielder only joined Napoli in the summer for £6m, but they are willing to let him go already without making an appearance.

The 21-year-old was a team-mate of de Roon at Atalanta in the first half of last season and their partnership in the middle was what caught the eye of a number of clubs, including Middlesbrough. He plays further forward than de Roon.