ANTONIO BARRAGAN is expected on Teesside tomorrow to complete his move to Middlesbrough – and it is hoped team-mate Alvaro Negredo will not be far behind him.

Boro have reached an agreement with Valencia over the terms of Barragan’s switch to the Riverside Stadium and he is due for a medical and to complete the move before the warm weather training trip to Marbella.

The 29-year-old, who only has 12 months on his contract at the Mestalla, is said to be excited about the prospect of playing in the Premier League next season after being told he can leave La Liga.

Middlesbrough chief executive Neil Bausor is believed to have been in Spain to tie up the deal and there are not expected to be any further complications ahead of his fitness and medical tests.

There has been more work to do on Negredo’s proposed season-long loan from Valencia but hopes remain between the two clubs that head coach Aitor Karanka can have the experienced forward on his playing staff.

Karanka has identified the former Manchester City man as the striker he wants in his squad to give them a greater top-flight feel ahead of Middlesbrough’s first game in the Premier League since 2009 when they face Stoke on August 13.

While an agreement has been reached over a loan fee and the possibility of a permanent deal at the end of the season of around the £9m mark, the 30-year-old’s weekly wage of more than £100,000-a-week has provided problems.

Middlesbrough are unwilling to match the pay he is receiving at Valencia, knowing that it has been structured to include bonuses and add-ons related to his time at Manchester City.

Karanka is also waiting to hear a decision on his future from Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic.

As revealed in The Northern Echo last week, the Serbian centre-back has already been for a look around the club’s Riverside home and Rockliffe Park training base and is understood to have been impressed by what Karanka had to say.

He has not ruled out a switch to Teesside and Middlesbrough have agreed a fee for the player, believed to be in the region of £8m.

Subotic has the option of staying in the Bundesliga where Koln are keen, but the biggest interest in his services is from the Premier League.

Sunderland have expressed an interest, but Middlesbrough are known to be ahead of them in the pecking order.

Arsenal, Everton, Stoke City and Liverpool have all been in contact with the player’s representatives, but Middlesbrough are serious contenders for Subotic’s signature.