MIDDLESBROUGH remain hopeful of adding at least one new attacking player to their ranks ahead of tomorrow night’s transfer deadline, but the club’s pursuit of a number of different options has proved increasingly frustrating.

There were two exits from the Riverside yesterday, with Grant Leadbitter completing his switch to Sunderland and Danny Batth making a permanent move to Stoke City after his loan from Wolves was cut short, but attention in the next two days will switch to firming up potential arrivals.

Boro officials have discussed a number of attacking targets, but have been forced to remove a succession of options from their list.

Connor Wickham will not be leaving Crystal Palace after forcing his way back into Roy Hodgson’s first-team plans in the last few weeks – the former Sunderland striker scored in last weekend’s FA Cup win over Tottenham – and while Boro remain interested in Brentford duo Neale Maupay and Ollie Watkins, the Bees have effectively priced them out of the market. Brentford are demanding at least £10m for Maupay, whose 16 Championship goals make him the division’s fourth highest scorer this season.

The Northern Echo:

Boro’s recruitment team have turned their attention to Isaac Vassell in the last couple of days, but are seeking a carefully-structured deal for the £2m-rated striker, who has suffered a series of injury problems. Birmingham’s financial position means they are open to offers, but the Blues are reluctant to lose Vassell while there is a chance that his fellow striker, Che Adams, could be snapped up by one of his Premier League suitors. If Vassell is allowed to leave St Andrew’s, it is likely to be in the final few hours of the window.

Batth’s move to Stoke City went through yesterday, with the Potters having agreed a £3.5m fee for the centre-half. The terms of Batth’s loan deal meant Boro had first refusal on a deal of their own, but they did want to match Stoke’s offer for the defender, who made 13 senior appearances after moving to Teesside on deadline day in August.

Leadbitter’s departure was also confirmed yesterday morning, with the former Boro skipper having re-joined Sunderland on a two-and-a-half year deal.

The 33-year-old moved to Teesside on a free transfer from Ipswich Town in 2012, and made more than 200 league starts for Boro in a spell that saw him play him an integral role in the promotion-winning season under Aitor Karanka.

He became a firm fans’ favourite thanks to his commitment and drive at the heart of midfield, and within minutes of his exit being confirmed, he released an open letter to the Middlesbrough supporters via the club’s official website.

“When I joined in 2012, I could never have dreamt of having such a good relationship with the fans, and the welcome you gave me and your support over the years has been amazing,” wrote Leadbitter. “I can’t thank Tony Mowbray enough for signing me in the first place, Aitor and Leo (Percovich) for what they brought to the club and achieved, and Steve Agnew, who was absolutely fantastic to work with.

“It’s impossible to mention everyone by name, but from the fans to the boardroom, and from the staff around the club to the many team-mates I’ve been with in the dressing room, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for making the last six-and-a-half years so memorable.

“Captaining the promotion winning side in 2015-16 was undoubtedly the high point, and even now I can’t express how proud I am to say that, especially when you think back to Monday 25th May 2015 and the horrible low feeling of emptiness after losing to Norwich at Wembley in the play-off final.

“The Premier League season didn’t go how any of us would have wanted, I felt particularly helpless during the time of my injury. To have worked so hard along with my team-mates to help this club get back to the Premier League and to fail was tough to take.

“Relegation was hard to take, as was losing in the play-off semi-finals last season, and I can’t deny that this season has been tough for me personally, but I always set myself high standards and continued to work hard every day. But I will leave here with nothing but happy memories from a club that I have enjoyed being a part of.”

Meanwhile, tickets for next Tuesday’s FA Cup fourth-round replay at Newport County will go on sale to Boro season-card holders at 9.30am this morning.