MIDDLESBROUGH are close to completing an £8m deal for Stoke City midfielder Bojan Krkic, with Aitor Karanka conceding Stewart Downing could leave to join one of the club’s relegation rivals on loan this month.

With Karanka having identified Bojan as his preferred midfield target, Boro officials have been in touch with their counterparts at the Britannia Stadium to discuss a potential move for the Spaniard.

Mark Hughes started the month insisting he wanted to retain the 26-year-old, but the Stoke boss publicly criticised Bojan after hauling him off at half-time in last weekend’s FA Cup defeat to Wolves and appears to have concluded it is time to allow the former Barcelona trainee to move on.

Karanka worked with Bojan during his time in the Spanish FA’s youth system, and while he has also been pursuing Robert Snodgrass and Gerard Deulofeu this month, he regards the Stoke midfielder as the best fit for his preferred attacking formation.

Bojan is contracted to the Potters until 2020, but given he has only made five Premier League starts this season, Boro are increasingly confident of being able to force through a deal for around £8m.

Karanka would not discuss Bojan’s situation in any detail during yesterday’s press briefing at Rockliffe Park, but he praised technical director Victor Orta for his transfer work and confirmed his desire to recruit someone capable of playing in a wide-attacking position.

“The position that we need to strengthen is the wings,” said Karanka, who has welcomed Victor Valdes and Viktor Fischer back into his squad for tomorrow’s game at Watford. “I think we need more pace, especially when we have the ball, and we are trying to bring in the best player possible.

“I am not here to talk about Snodgrass, Bojan or Deulofeu. The only thing I know is that we brought Victor Orta to the club, and I am more than pleased with him. He is working really well, and I trust him 150 per cent.

“He knows what I think, and I told him that I don’t want to know anything at the beginning because he knows my thoughts. When everything is more or less done, that is when I will know. He is working well, the club is working, and the aim is to finish the transfer market with a better squad than we have now.”

Karanka also expects to sanction further departures this month, with Downing and Jordan Rhodes set to follow David Nugent, Julien de Sart and Tomas Mejias out of the exit door.

Sheffield Wednesday remain interested in Rhodes, despite having agreed a £500,000 deal for Barnsley striker Sam Winnall, while Downing is still expected to join Crystal Palace on a season-long loan despite Boro’s misgivings about him moving to a side one place below them in the Premier League table.

Karanka has confirmed Downing will be allowed to leave if an acceptable deal can be agreed, although the former England international remains part of the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Vicarage Road.

While Steve Gibson and Neil Bausor will be involved in discussions about Downing’s departure, Karanka insists he will have the final say, and he is willing to consider an agreement with one of Boro’s relegation rivals if it is the only option available come the end of the month.

“I have always said that if a player wants to leave, and Middlesbrough and another club agree a transfer, then that is fine with me,” said the Boro boss. “Whether it is selling a player, buying a player or bringing a player in on loan from another club, all the things have to fall into place.

“If Stewart wants to leave, and all the clubs agree, then would I be happy (to let him go)? Yes of course. I have always said that the players who are not happy here can leave.

“If the club that wants him agrees things with our club, then it will not be a problem for me. I don’t want to think about what scenario is better or worse – Crystal Palace or a Championship team – because at the moment, I don’t know anything on that score. But I take every single decision here. I have all responsibilities.”

Nugent’s move to Derby was confirmed at the start of the week, and while the 31-year-old played an influential role in last season’s promotion success, his role as a bit-part player in the current campaign meant Karanka did not feel he could stand in his way when Steve McClaren offered him a place in the Rams squad.

“I think he’s the kind of player where you are not 50-50 (about allowing him to leave),” he said. “He is a player who has done an amazing job here, as a player and a person. As a manager, it is amazing to have a player like him in the squad.

“I have always said I want the best for my players. He thought the best place for him was Derby, and I think it’s a good place for him. I’m really pleased.

“I hope he can get himself promoted again. I think it would be the third or fourth time for him, and I wish him all the best.”

Valdes will return to tomorrow’s starting line-up after shaking off the knock he sustained in a collision with Zlatan Ibrahimovich on New Year’s Eve, and while Gaston Ramirez remains unavailable, Fischer has returned to full training after recovering from his knee injury.