MICHAEL CARRICK has confirmed Middlesbrough are on the brink of completing the signing of Danish left-back Lukas Engel.

Boro officials have agreed a deal with Silkeborg for the permanent transfer of the 24-year-old, who is moving to the Riverside as a replacement for last season’s loanee, Ryan Giles.

Engel is understood to have travelled to England and completed a medical, with Boro’s recruitment team currently finalising the final formalities of his move to Teesside.

A former Denmark Under-21 international, Engel has made 53 senior appearances since joining Silkeborg from their fellow Danish top-flight side, Vejle, in January 2022.

His initial loan move was eventually made permanent, with Engel scoring one goal and claiming ten assists last season, and making five appearances in the Europa Conference League. He has one assist from his three appearances during the current campaign in the Danish top-flight.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that things are progressing with Lucas,” said Carrick, whose side return to Championship action with a lunchtime game at Coventry City on Saturday.

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“It’s always difficult when it’s not quite over the line, but it is getting a little bit closer so we’re hopeful that at some point soon, that will get done.”

As well as pursuing Engel, the Boro hierarchy have also spent the last week attempting to seal a deal for a new centre-forward.

There have been discussions with Serie A side Atalanta over Ivorian forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, but those talks remain ongoing with a deal yet to be agreed.

“We’re trying to strengthen the squad,” said Carrick. “That’s the job at the moment, that’s the time of year that we’re in even though the season has started. We’re pushing for it, and as soon as something happens we’ll let you know. Until then, there’s nothing really to report.

“Is the striker position the hardest to fill? Not necessarily. I think really it depends on what you’re after and how specific you are on what you want from each position.

“Sometimes, you might be a little bit more general in terms of the strengths of the players you want – when you’re a little bit more specific, that filters the market quite a bit.

“It’s never as simple or as easy as just identifying who you want and making that happen because there’s a lot of moving parts. We know that. We’re patient to a point, but we’re conscious that certain things need doing as well.”