MIDDLESBROUGH have tabled an improved £4.5m bid for Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, and are prepared to offer the Republic of Ireland international a four-year deal in an attempt to lure him to the Riverside.

Having seen a £5m bid for Newcastle’s Karl Darlow rejected last week, and with another target, Sam Johnstone, set to rejoin Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United, Boro have renewed their interest in Westwood.

Sheffield Wednesday officials rebuffed a £3m offer at the start of the month, and are currently considering the Teessiders’ improved approach, which was formally submitted yesterday.

The Hillsborough hierarchy are understood to be looking for at least £5.5m before they will agree to Westwood’s departure, and Boro chief executive Neil Bausor is set to stage further talks in an attempt to engineer a compromise.

Westwood has two years of his current contract remaining with Sheffield Wednesday, but the Owls have been unwilling to offer him a new deal.

As a result, Boro are hoping the attraction of a potential four-year deal will be sufficient to persuade the 32-year-old to push for a switch to Teesside.

With Victor Valdes and Brad Guzan having left since the end of last season, Boro’s goalkeeping department currently consists of Dimi Konstantopoulos, Connor Ripley and Tomas Mejias.

Garry Monk is also looking to add another centre-forward to the ranks, but Watford have joined the race for Britt Assombalonga, and are confident of outflanking both Boro and Burnley in order to sign the Nottingham Forest striker.

Monk has made Assombalonga his number one attacking target, but his pursuit of the 24-year-old has been hampered by strong competition from the Premier League.

Burnley have had an £8m bid for Assombalonga rejected at the City Ground, but are preparing another approach that could see them include £2m-rated full-back Tendayi Darikwa as part of a proposed deal.

However, Watford officials also made contact with the Nottingham Forest hierarchy at the weekend, and are understood to be preparing a straight £10m offer for Assombalonga.

Having been appointed as Watford manager last month, Marco Silva has spent the last couple of weeks assessing the squad he inherited at Vicarage Road.

With Troy Deeney’s future uncertain, Silva is keen to sign a new striker this summer, and Assombalonga has emerged as his preferred option.

Watford’s interest could scupper Boro’s hopes of pulling off a deal, with Assombalonga having previously expressed a desire to test himself in the top-flight.

The DR Congo-born forward has scored 30 goals in 65 league games for Forest, with 14 of those goals having come last season despite him suffering a succession of injury problems.

Monk has already overseen a number of departures since replacing Steve Agnew, with Antonio Barragan having ended a one-year stay on Teesside by joining Real Betis on a season-long loan, with a view to a €1m permanent deal next summer.

Barragan joined Boro from Valencia 12 months ago, and admits he experienced mixed fortunes during his time in the North-East.

“It was bittersweet,” said Barragan. “I felt good at individual level. (Aitor) Karanka had trust in me from the beginning, but then relegation happened. It was a new experience that helps you grow both as a player and as a person.”