MIDDLESBROUGH are hoping to complete a Premier League double deal after making loan inquiries for Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton and Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury.

Boro boss Chris Wilder is hoping to make significant transfer progress in the next two weeks to ensure he has new signings in place by the time his first-team squad reconvene at Rockliffe Park for the start of pre-season training.

The Teessiders kicked off their incoming summer transfer business last week by agreeing a deal for free agent Darragh Lenihan, with the defender set to join after turning down the offer of a new contract at Blackburn Rovers, and further potential moves are currently under discussion.

The signing of a new goalkeeper has been a priority all summer, with Boro willing to listen offers for both Joe Lumley, who is the subject of interest from Championship rivals Reading, and Luke Daniels.

The Teessiders made approaches for both Karl Darlow and Daniel Iversen at the start of the close season, but with neither players’ current employers wanting to agree to a deal at this stage, attention has switched to Old Trafford.

A preliminary inquiry about Dean Henderson was quickly shelved when the England international ruled out a drop to the Championship, but talks have moved on to Heaton, who is currently third choice in the Manchester United squad.

The 36-year-old moved to Old Trafford following his release from Aston Villa last summer, but his only senior appearance in the whole of last season came as a substitute in a Champions League group-stage game against Young Boys.

He does not feature in Erik ten Hag’s plans for next season despite having one more year of his contract remaining, and is looking to move on to alternative employers to give himself a chance of playing rather than winding down his playing days in the shadows with Manchester United.

A hugely-experienced campaigner, who boasts three senior England caps, Heaton has made more than 350 senior appearances during a career that has spanned almost 15 years.

His most successful spell came during a six-year stint with Burnley, and while the extent of his enduring ability has to be taken on trust to a degree, Wilder has made clear that he wants an experienced number one to be his go-to goalkeeper next season.

Boro have also been linked with a move for Northampton Town goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who has rejected the offer of a new deal with the Cobblers. With Dejan Stojanovic having left Boro since the end of last season, Roberts would be signed as the club’s new number two.

With Boro pursuing potential deals on a number of different fronts, talks have also taken place with Leicester over Choudhury.

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The midfielder’s career has stalled badly in the last couple of seasons, with Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers reluctant to hand him too many first-team opportunities.

Choudhury started just four Premier League matches last season, and is set to leave the King Power Stadium this summer in an attempt to get things back on track.

He was linked with loan moves last summer and in January – most notably with Newcastle United – but ended up staying with Leicester, something he is keen to avoid happening again.

Boro are keen to recruit a new central midfielder with James Lea-Siliki having returned to Rennes following the end of his loan deal and major question marks over the future of Martin Payero, who could end the summer back in Argentina with Banfield.

However, the Teessiders are not the only club interested in Choudhury, with West Brom also having held advanced talks with the 24-year-old’s representatives.

Wilder and the rest of Boro’s recruitment team are also focusing on trying to improve the club’s attack, with Andraz Sporar, Folarin Balogun and Aaron Connolly all having left since the end of last season.

There is interest in Southampton’s Adam Armstrong and Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle, but at this stage, a deal for either player remains some way off.