MIDDLESBROUGH hope to reveal a solution to their midfield problems today by adding a new face on a season-long loan to replace Didier Digard.

Hamburg’s Mickael Tavares is favourite to arrive, having interested manager Gordon Strachan in recent weeks since he was made available by the Bundesliga club.

Boro were reluctant to reveal the identity of their target before a deal had been concluded, although it was claimed last night in Germany there has been contact between the clubs.

Strachan has been forced to look for another central midfielder after injuries to Kevin Thomson, Gary O’Neil, Rhys Williams and Willo Flood.

Nicky Bailey, who has also been operating there, is a doubt for tomorrow’s trip to Barnsley with a groin problem.

The Boro boss remains hopeful a deal can be struck before Tuesday’s transfer deadline with Dundee United for Craig Conway.

Strachan said: “We are close to getting a loan deal in for a midfielder, it should be done in next 24 hours hopefully. It is a season-long loan.”

Tavares, 27, has been with Hamburg since moving from Slavia Prague in January last year, but spent the final few months of last season on loan at Nuremburg.

Strachan has stepped up his efforts to strengthen his squad with time ticking towards the transfer deadline.

Confirmation is imminent on the departures of Digard and Mido, to Nice and Ajax respectively.

As well as Digard, who has two years remaining on his deal at Middlesbrough, heading to Nice again, Mido should finalise a loan switch to Amsterdam which takes him up to the end of his existing terms at the Riverside.

“Mido and Digard will be leaving the club. There is no doubt about that,” said Strachan.

“They will not be involved in the 25-man squad although I do not know exactly when they are leaving.