SLOVENIAN striker Andraz Sporar is expected to complete his move to Middlesbrough and link up with the squad next week. 

Reports from Portugal have suggested that Sporar is set to come to Teesside on loan initially but as part of the deal, Boro will have to sign him permanently should they be promoted this season. 

The Sporting Lisbon striker has plenty of experience under his belt playing in Portugal along with Basel, Arminia Bielefield and Braga while he has 28 international caps for Slovenia. 

While Warnock has been in the market for a central striker to boost his options, he told the media about his initial impressions and where he could play in the Boro side. 

“I like to think he can settle in quickly" Warnock said.

"At the same time, we’ve got Duncan and Tavernier to come back as well. Hopefully they’ll all be fit and I’ll have to make those decisions.

"I spoke to him and he’s a bubbly character and speaks very good English which will help him. When I give him a rollocking he’ll understand.

“I don’t think his forte is a target man if I’m honest. I think he could play with another target man. He can do that role but he’s not going to win headers that Uche probably would win. He’s played across all three positions and he’s played up as a two so he’s quite versatile and he’s got a good turn of pace.

Warnock is adamant that a deal should be done for the 27-year-old but conceded it may take some time for all the formalities of the international move to be completed, much like it did for Boro's deal for Martin Payero. 

“Yeah that’s all I’ve been told anyway. The medical was done somewhere, Portugal or Spain the other day" Warnock told the media. 

"I know they were doing some paperwork yesterday. Obviously he won’t be involved on Saturday so I imagine a full week ahead next week.

"Karen has been working really hard with all these papers that have got to happen, you know like with (Martin) Payero, it took forever really and I would imagine that will be the same. There’s all sorts of things really."

Boro are short of centre frowards with Ucke Ikpeazu, Chuba Akpom and Josh Coburn being Warnock's only options, although Akpom could seal a move away from Teesside before the end of the transfer window with reports suggesting Panathinaikos were enquiring about his services. 

The addition of Sporar to his squad will give Warnock more options as they get into the thick of their Championship campaign. 

Warnock added: "You’ve got to have competition for up front. Last year we had three. Fletcher, Assombalonga , Chuba. You’ve got to have numbers in there. At the minute, we’re just relying on Uche and then I think I’ve pushed Crooksy (Matt Crooks) up but he’s got so much in his locker from other positions, I don’t really want to waste.

"Having said that, I think I’ve got to say Josh Coburn has come into my reckoning now. He’s been so strong this last ten days, couple of weeks so I class Josh now as one of our strikers so if we can get Sporar, that might do that."