MIDDLESBROUGH will trigger Keiren Westwood’s £3m buyout clause in an attempt to make the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper their number one shot-stopper next season.

The departure of Victor Valdes and Brad Guzan has left a major gap in Boro’s goalkeeping resources, and new boss Garry Monk has identified Westwood as his number one target.

The Republic of Ireland international boasts extensive experience in the Championship, and was widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the second tier last season.

He kept 16 clean sheets as Sheffield Wednesday made it into the play-offs, but his contractual situation means the Owls are vulnerable to external approaches.

While Westwood has two years of his current deal to run, his contract includes a £3m buyout option that Boro are hoping to exploit.

The Teessiders have already made an initial inquiry to officials at Hillsborough, and are set to firm up their interest in an attempt to force through an agreement before the start of pre-season training.

West Ham have also been linked with a possible move for Westwood if their attempts to sign Joe Hart are unsuccessful, and Boro’s recruitment team are keen to make their own approach before competition from the Premier League materialises.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal does not want to lose Westwood, and will urge those above him to offer the 32-year-old a new deal in order to keep him in South Yorkshire.

However, Monk is hopeful the Irishman will regard Boro as a better bet for promotion than the Owls, even though his current employers were beaten play-off semi-finalists last season.

Next season will be an extremely important one for Westwood, as he is battling with Darren Randolph and Rob Elliot in the Republic of Ireland’s starting line-up ahead of a potential appearance at next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.

While Boro have offered Dimi Konstantopoulos a new deal, Westwood would be the club’s number one if he was to sign.

Monk is gradually starting to remodel the squad he inherited at Rockliffe Park, but while Stewart Downing has been told he is free to look for alternative employers, there is a reluctance to lose too many established first-team players.

Gaston Ramirez will be leaving Teesside this summer, but Boro have rebuffed interest in Marten de Roon and are increasingly keen to keep Adama Traore in next season’s squad too.

Lazio made an official inquiry about de Roon, and were willing to go close to the £12m that Boro shelled out to sign the Dutchman from Atalanta last summer.

However, they were told de Roon is not currently for sale, with Monk keen to see the midfielder at first hand once pre-season training begins.

The same applies to Traore, with chairman Steve Gibson having assured his new manager he will not be asked to sell anyone he does not want to lose.

West Ham and Chelsea have both signalled their interest in the winger, with Newcastle United the latest club to be linked with a possible move yesterday. But Monk is looking forward to seeing Traore in action at Rockliffe Park and there is a good chance the 21-year-old will be involved in the Boro squad for the opening games of next season.