MIDDLESBROUGH have agreed a deal with Darragh Lenihan – and are set to make the Irish defender their first signing of what is likely to be a busy summer of transfer activity.

Lenihan is a free agent following the end of his contract at Blackburn Rovers, and is understood to have agreed a four-year contract with Boro.

The 28-year-old was Blackburn’s skipper last season, and was offered a new deal to remain at Ewood Park.

However, with Rovers currently managerless following the departure of former Boro boss Tony Mowbray at the end of last season, the centre-half opted to exercise his right to speak to other clubs.

Boro are one of a number of Championship clubs that are known to have made an approach to the defender and his representatives, and they have won the battle to sign the Irish international.

The Northern Echo:

Chris Wilder was determined to sign an experienced central-defender this summer to provide competition to Dael Fry, Paddy McNair and Anfernee Dijksteel, who formed his first-choice back three for the majority of last season.

The departure of Sol Bamba, Lee Peltier and Neil Taylor as free agents last month created a series of defensive gaps in the squad, and Grant Hall is also expected to depart in the next few weeks, with the former QPR centre-half having barely featured under Wilder in the second half of last season. The 30-year-old has one more year of his current deal remaining, but does not have a future at the Riverside and is set to move on.

Lenihan adds some extensive Championship experience to Boro’s backline, having made more than 250 senior appearances for Blackburn.

He joined Rovers as a youngster in 2011, having started his youth career with Belvedere, a club based in Dublin. He made 41 appearances for Blackburn last season, marshalling the defence as Mowbray’s side narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs.

Lenihan’s signing should be confirmed when the transfer window officially reopens later this month, with his arrival set to kickstart a hectic summer as Wilder looks to overhaul his squad.

The Boro boss is keen to sign a new goalkeeper, although initial discussions over Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow and Leicester City’s Daniel Iversen have so far failed to result in a deal.

Wilder’s other main transfer focus is at the other end of the field, where there is an obvious need to overhaul an attack that malfunctioned repeatedly last season.

Andraz Sporar, Aaron Connolly and Falorin Balogun have all returned to their parent clubs, leaving Boro badly short of attacking options as things stand.

The club have an interest in Newcastle United forward Dwight Gayle, although the 32-year-old’s wage demands could prove problematic as Boro’s recruitment team attempt to thrash out a deal.

Gayle’s current wages on Tyneside would make him Boro’s highest-paid player by a considerable distance, but the veteran’s willingness to remain in the North-East, where he has become settled, and Newcastle’s desire to move the forward on could mean a compromise is possible.

Boro are also interested in Coventry City’s Viktor Gyokeres, with the Sweden international having scored 17 Championship goals for the Sky Blues last season.