MIDDLESBROUGH are close to agreeing a season-long loan for Valencia striker Alvaro Negredo.

The Teessiders have held a number of discussions with the Valencia hierarchy, with a breakthrough finally arriving over the weekend.

Valencia had been holding out for a permanent deal, and there is still a chance that Negredo will complete a full-time switch to the Riverside.

However, Boro had always preferred an initial loan move, and it now looks as though their negotiations had proved productive.

Negredo, who has turned down two opportunities to move to China this summer, is set to sign a season-long loan that will include a non-binding purchase clause of around €10m that all parties will have to agree to if it is to be activated next summer.

Boro's preference for a loan move reflects Negredo's somewhat inconsistent form over the last two seasons, and his struggles to force his way into Valencia's first-team ranks last term.

He remains a hugely talented striker, but Aitor Karanka was reluctant to commit up to £9-10m to his capture without having had the chance to work with him first.

Valencia are set to agree to the loan move as it will free up around €7m-a-year on their wage bill in order to fund their own additions.

Having held productive talks over the weekend, Boro officials are hoping Negredo will travel to Teeeside for a medical in the next 48 hours.

Negredo scored 23 goals in 49 appearances during his previous spell in England with Manchester City, but managed just five La Liga goals for Valencia last season, having returned to Spain in a €27m deal.