DAVID MOYES remains confident West Ham United will sign Darren Randolph despite having to delay the Middlesbrough goalkeeper’s transfer because of his ongoing hip injury.

Randolph has spent the vast majority of this week in London trying to push through a £4m switch to the London Stadium, but heads into this weekend with his future still up in the air.

The Republic of Ireland international has been sidelined since November with a hip injury, and is understood to have been subjected to two separate medicals this week as West Ham’s medical staff attempt to ensure he has no long-standing issues that might jeopardise his ability to stay fit in the second half of the season.

Moyes does not want to take any risks as he looks to provide some much-needed cover for Lukasz Fabianksi, but expects a deal to go through shortly.

“Darren’s a goalkeeper we’ve identified that we’d like to bring in,” said Moyes. “At the moment, he’s just carrying a bit of an injury that he’s had for several weeks.

“We have to make sure that’s completely healed, so that’s where a bit of delay has come in at this moment in time. I’m very hopeful it will happen.”

As well as agreeing to the sale of Randolph, Boro head coach Jonathan Woodgate has also sanctioned the loan departures of Marcus Browne and Marc Bola.

Browne has re-joined Oxford United, having spent last season on loan at the Kassam Stadium from West Ham. Bola has had a number of offers from clubs in League One, but it poised to re-join Blackpool, having joined the Seasiders from Arsenal 18 months ago.

Browne was expected to make a significant impression after moving to Teesside in the summer, but made just five Championship starts in the first half of the season, with his most recent appearance ending in ignominy as he was sent off for a reckless challenge during last month’s 3-1 defeat at Swansea City.

“Middlesbrough are a fantastic club and I’m enjoying my time there, but as soon as I knew it was a possibility I loved the idea of coming back here because everyone - the gaffer, the staff, the players and the fans -made me feel so welcome at Oxford last season,” said Browne.

“The club is in a great position, and I can’t wait to be involved and hopefully be part of the club’s success this season.”

Oxford boss Karl Robinson did not want to lose Browne six months ago, and is delighted to have him back on board as he tries to engineer a successful promotion push with his side currently sitting in fourth position in the League One table.

“He is such a talent and gives us so many options in attack,” said Robinson. “He knows the lads, he knows how we like to play and we feel like we have done some really good work already in this transfer window.”

While Woodgate was happy to see Browne and Bola leave this month, the Boro boss is adamant Djed Spence will not be going anywhere despite reported interested from Tottenham.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has been linked with a possible move for the teenager after watching him at first hand last season, but Boro are not anticipating a formal approach this month and are adamant Spence will not be going anywhere even if one arrives.

Having tied Hayden Coulson down to a new contract last month, Boro officials are hopeful of being able to strike a new long-term agreement with Spence before the end of the season.