CARLOS MARINELLI will seal a permanent move to Torino from Middlesbrough when his loan deal expires at the end of the season.

The Italian Serie A strugglers took the Argentine youngster on a short term deal in January.

Marinelli has impressed during his first few months at the Turin club and they want to secure the out-of-favour Boro star on a long-term basis.

It had been feared cash-strapped Torino's hopes of snapping up the player would come to nothing, as Boro initially slapped a fee believed to be around £3m on his head.

However, the Riverside outfit are now understood to have backed down over their asking price for an attacking midfielder who has struggled to make an impact in the Premiership.

With a compromise reached over a transfer fee, Torino have been holding contract negotiations with the 21-year-old.

And Marinelli is close to agreeing terms with the Italians, who look like they will be playing in Serie B next season.

Just last week Marinelli warned he would only join Torino if he was given a pay rise, he said: "At Middlesbrough I was paid $450,000 (US dollars) per year, I want to sign for Torino in Serie B but for $500,000."

Now it is thought both parties have come to an agreement and Marinelli is expected to bring his Teesside nightmare to an end.

He was branded the 'new Diego Maradona' when he joined Boro for from Boca Juniors in 1999.

But Marinelli has only shown glimpses of the talent that persuaded former boss Bryan Robson to pay £1.5m for him.

After making just seven Premiership appearances for Boro this season, current manager McClaren chose to allow the tricky forward to go out on loan.

Now it appears as though that temporary switch will become permanent over the next month or so.

Meanwhile, former Boro youngster Andrew Kelly is on trial with Second Division promotion chasers Oldham Athletic.

The 19-year-old centre-back has already had spells at Hartlepool United and Grimsby Town.

Now Kelly, who has been released by Boro boss McClaren, is hoping to impress the Latics and he played for their reserves side against Preston last night.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.