Middlesbrough: Boro ready to seal signing of Oxford's magic Johnson

The U’s talent has been on Garry Monk’s radar and the two clubs have been negotiating a fee with an agreement reached that will see Middlesbrough pay £2.5m with a further £500,000 depending on appearances.

Oxford had asked Middlesbrough for more than the £2m initially offered because of a sell-on clause which enabled Motherwell to get a cut of any fee.

Motherwell allowed Johnson to move 12 months ago for £650,000 and they knocked back offers in excess of £1m during the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old has not figured for Oxford since the win over Portsmouth on August 12 because of hamstring trouble and he has had the likes of Leicester, Aston Villa and Birmingham all show an interest.

But it is Middlesbrough who are close to concluding a deal before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Thursday – and they have effectively ruled out landing Brentford forward Jota.

Boro have refused to enter into an auction for Jota, paving the way for West Ham United to make a late move for the Spaniard.

The Hammers have entered the fray to sign the player before the transfer deadline and are competing with Fulham to prise him away from Griffin Park.

Brentford are reluctant to let him go and rate him in the £8m bracket and that has been enough to put Middlesbrough off.

Boro boss Garry Monk rates the player but they have decided against pushing too hard before the deadline.

Sources close to the player have also suggested he would prefer to stay down south, which would also rule out Newcastle United who have shown tentative interest.

Middlesbrough are understood to have had an offer rejected – believed to be around the £4.5m mark - and Fulham are expected to put £6m down. West Ham, desperate for new additions, could trump both of those.

Middlesbrough are not expecting to be too busy before tomorrow's deadline.

A fee remains agreed with Birmingham for defender Ryan Shotton, who is expected to join when Harry Redknapp lands a replacement, although the long delay has led to suggestions Middlesbrough are to move on Bristol City’s Aden Flint instead.

The return to the first-team fold of Stewart Downing has increased Monk’s options in the final third, while it is understood they are standing firm in not lowering their valuation of Adama Traore.

Lille have been in touch and are prepared to increase an offer for the £13m-rated winger, but Middlesbrough will not be offloading him for what they feel is lower than his value.

The Spanish winger offers greater pace and a different sort of approach to any other player in the squad – and he had been used early on in the campaign before he was left out of last weekend’s goalless draw with Preston.

That seemed to be a sign that Traore was on his way out, particularly as reports in France claim that personal terms have been agreed with Lille and that he is keen.

But as things stand, after offers have been rejected for the 21-year-old, Traore will be staying on Teesside until January at least unless there is a dramatic shift in the next 48 hours.

Despite investing more than £45m in the playing staff since taking over, Monk does not believe he has the biggest squad so is reluctant to sanction sales of his forwards - hence blocking Leeds United’s push for Rudy Gestede too.

Monk is open-minded to incomings and outgoings but there is a feeling they will not be overly busy in the final hours of the transfer window.

Boro have announced the signings of new academy players Amadou Sylla and Jakub Sinior.

Twenty-year-old attacking midfielder Sylla, formerly of Stade de Reims, has arrived as a free agent and has signed a one-year deal. Centre-back Sinior, 17, has signed a two-year deal after leaving Legia Warsaw.