MIDDLESBROUGH are set to hold deadline-day discussions with Stoke City over striker Lee Gregory, but the Teessiders will not be making a dramatic late move for Danny Rose despite speculation linking them with the Tottenham full-back.

With the EFL transfer window due to close at 5pm today, Neil Warnock is hoping to make a couple of late additions to his squad.

The Boro boss is mindful of the need to keep his expenditure to a minimum given the ongoing uncertainty over Championship finances, but remains keen to add a forward and left-back if possible.

His attacking search has taken him to Gregory, with Stoke expected to offload the experienced 32-year-old even though he has started the club’s last two matches, scoring his first goal of the season in the Potters’ 1-0 win at Preston.

Gregory’s extensive Championship experience with both Stoke and Millwall makes him an attractive proposition, even if he finished last season with just six league goals to his name.

He was a reliable goalscorer during his five seasons at the Den with Millwall, and has entered the final year of his current contract with Stoke.

He is also the subject of interest from Sheffield Wednesday, with Owls boss Garry Monk also on the look-out for a new forward before the transfer window swings shut.

Wednesday officials are understood to have held discussions with their counterparts at Stoke’s bet365 Stadium yesterday, but the Boro hierarchy remain hopeful of completing a deal.

Warnock’s need for a new striker has been accentuated by the ongoing injury fears related to Ashley Fletcher.

Fletcher has missed Boro’s last two league games with an ankle problem, and while it was initially hoped the injury was not too serious, a series of scans are not believed to have been especially positive.

If Fletcher was to be unavailable for a prolonged period, Boro’s attacking resources would be spread extremely thin with just Britt Assombalonga and Chuba Akpom available as established centre-forwards.

Patrick Roberts, who re-signed this week on a season-long loan from Manchester City, could be stationed as a central striker, but Warnock would much prefer to use him as either a wide attacker or a ‘number ten’.

At the other end of the field, the Boro boss has been pursuing a number of left-back targets, but he will not be making a deadline-day move for Rose.

A number of reports have emerged in recent days suggesting the Teessiders have made a loan offer for the former England international, who is keen to leave Tottenham after being informed he does not have a future at the club under Jose Mourinho.

However, the 30-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Newcastle United, is earning more than any player currently on Boro’s books, and having worked so diligently to keep their finances at a manageable level amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Teessiders will not be breaking the bank on deadline-day.

They have held talks with Chelsea over Baba Rahman, and the Ghana international remains a target in the left-back slot.

Rahman is expected to leave Stamford Bridge at some stage today, although Derby County have also held a series of discussions in an attempt to set up a loan deal.

Warnock is understood to be monitoring an alternative defensive option, although that move could well be dependent on what happens with the player’s parent club ahead of the 5pm cut-off point.