AITOR KARANKA is desperate to hear some good news on the transfer front as Tuesday night’s deadline approaches without deals for any of Middlesbrough’s top targets in place.

More concerning for the Boro boss, Leicester City are ready to step up efforts to land £15m-rated wantaway playmaker Gaston Ramirez. His team-mate Jordan Rhodes is also expected to leave, with Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa the two main contenders.

Ramirez’s situation is a major issue for Karanka to keep abreast of because his departure could boost his own spending power. However, given the lack of success of attracting his targets to replace him, it is difficult to see how he can be sold at this stage.

The Middlesbrough head coach has already lost out on two of his main men. West Ham United won the battle to land Robert Snodgrass after the Teessiders refused to match the £10m-plus offer placed on the table.

Now Stoke City’s Bojan Krkic has opted to head to Germany to join Mainz for the rest of the season because he was worried about the position Middlesbrough find themselves in hovering above the relegation zone after entering the second half of the season.

Striking a loan agreement for Paris St Germain’s Jese Rodriguez has not been as straight forward as Karanka had envisaged either. Las Palmas’ interest in taking him back to Spain has clouded things, with further negotiations expected in the next 48 hours.

Karanka will be majorly disappointed if he does not strengthen his squad before the 11pm deadline on Tuesday, even though he has already added Patrick Bamford and Rudy Gestede for a combined £12m this month. He has brought in £2m by selling David Nugent so far.

After Saturday’s marginal 1-0 victory over Accrington in the FA Cup, Karanka was not in the mood to discuss transfer progress. The inference was that he is keen for the boardroom to get the targets in while he prepares his team for Tuesday’s visit of West Brom to the Riverside.

Karanka said: “I don't know anything. We have a game on Tuesday. I don't want to know about players leaving or coming. The club knows my priorities. We have to focus 100 per cent.”

There is also plenty of interest in Adama Traore, although he would not be allowed to play for another club this season anyway because of the two club rule. Chelsea are known admirers of him, while West Ham have also emerged as contenders even if that is in the summer.

Due to the lack of incoming transfer progress, the door reopened for Stewart Downing on Saturday and the chances of him leaving at the end of this month have receded.

Crystal Palace remain interested, but he was back in the Middlesbrough starting line-up and he struck the brilliant 69th minute winner to guide his hometown club into the FA Cup fifth round.

Karanka was full of praise for the 32-year-old after watching his performance and there is every chance he will be in the team to face the Baggies now; although the Spaniard was keen to quash attempts to bring up whether he wanted to let him go earlier this month.

The Middlesbrough boss said: “I don't know who was speaking about that. He is an important player, with Premier League experience. I showed I trusted him and that I will give him the chance when I can. I expect him to be here next month.”

Middlesbrough’s main aim is to stay in the Premier League this season. The fact that they have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the second time under Karanka’s watch is hugely satisfying, though.

The victory over Accrington, from League Two, was achieved even if it was never a great spectacle and they had to rely on Downing’s brilliance with 21 minutes remaining to do the job.

And Karanka said: “We were good. It was a difficult game to play and everyone thinks it is going to be easy because we were playing a team from League Two.

“But look at the number of good teams who have lost. Premier League teams and top of Championship. The big thing was we wanted to win the game and we have.”

Cup progress was not secured without problems though, with left-back George Friend now requiring assessment after dropping to the floor with a calf problem early in the tie. He then tried to play on for a few minutes but still had to be replaced.

The game was also an opportunity for Bamford and Gestede to start a game for the first time since moving from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively this month. Both players have struggled to hold down a first team place this season.

Bamford showed some nice touches, but his manager thinks his lack of football was evident when he was presented with a few goalscoring chances which were not taken.

Karanka said: “The Bamford of two or three years ago would have had three goals. He needs to be confident and be improving and keep fighting.”