HAYDEN COULSON has held talks with Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen as he looks to secure a move away from Middlesbrough.

While Coulson has been involved in a number of Boro’s pre-season matches, and was an unused substitute as the Teessiders completed their pre-season programme with a 2-0 win over Marseille on Friday night, he has been told he does not form part of Chris Wilder’s first-team plans for the forthcoming Championship campaign.

With Ryan Giles and Marc Bola competing for the left wing-back slot, Wilder does not see a role for Coulson this season, and the 24-year-old has been told to look for alternative employers.

Given that Coulson has entered the final year of his contract at the Riverside, Boro would ideally like to secure a permanent transfer, but they are also willing to countenance a loan move that would effectively signal the end of the Gateshead-born player’s time at the club anyway.

Coulson has already had loan spells at St Mirren, Cambridge, Ipswich and Peterborough during his career, and Aberdeen are ready to offer him a 12-month switch to Pittodrie.

Dons boss Jim Goodwin completed the signing of former Newcastle United trainee Callum Roberts from Notts County on Monday, and is hoping to add Coulson to his squad ahead of his side’s Scottish Premier League opener at Celtic this weekend.

Goodwin is keen to sign an experienced left-back as an injury to Jack MacKenzie means he is currently having to rely on youngster Mason Hancock to fill the position.

Talks remain ongoing, with Coulson one of a number of Boro fringe players that remain available for transfer.

Grant Hall completed a move to Rotherham United over the weekend, but Boro are still looking to move on Luke Daniels and Uche Ikpeazu, and are willing to listen to approaches for Chuba Akpom despite his surprise return to the squad for the Marseille game.