MIDDLESBROUGH would love to add Ryan Kent in their ranks but Jonathan Woodgate could have to wait until the 11th hour to land his man.

Liverpool are understood to be willing to listen to offers for the highly-rated 22-year-old and they value him in the £12m bracket.

The Reds have a good track record of commanding high fees for their promising academy graduates and will not be willing to let him go on the cheap.

And Middlesbrough will not be paying that sort of transfer fee this summer after missing out on promotion to the Premier League again last season.

That means Boro will be forced to wait to hear if they can persuade him to head to the Riverside Stadium on a season long loan before the window closes on Thursday, August 8 at 5pm.

There is no shortage of suitors for the gifted Kent and Middlesbrough know his creativity on the flank would significantly boost their attacking play having never replaced Adama Traore.

Woodgate is not trying to worry too much about adding new players to his ranks at this stage, suggesting earlier in the week that “there was no timescale” on that front.

He is keen to concentrate on building up his players’ fitness levels and making sure they understand the message he is trying to get across in how he wants the team to play.

Middlesbrough will play their first friendly of the summer under Woodgate on Friday against Grazer AK in Austria and it will be the first indication of the style and shape he is looking to implement.

There had been no new arrivals before Tomas Mejias re-signed for the club and it remains to be seen if Kent – who was on Middlesbrough’s radar last year - will be an addition before the start of the new campaign.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard wants him back at Ibrox next season but he knows that they can only strike a loan too, whereas Liverpool would ideally like to sell him. Leeds United and Aston Villa had been two of the others interested in him.

The Scottish Premier League’s young player of the year would love a crack at the Premier League but that is only likely to be realised this summer if a club matches the valuation – or at least agrees to a future purchase.

It has been an enjoyable week for the Middlesbrough squad in Austria ahead of meeting Grazer AK. The players and staff will return to Teesside on Saturday before facing Gateshead on Wednesday.

Middlesbrough are likely to give action to a number of the club’s youngsters in both. Djed Spence, Connor Malley and Nathan Wood are three most likely to figure.

Middlesbrough have learned their trip to Bristol City on August 31 will be on Sky at 12.30pm.