GARRY MONK has made Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow his number one goalkeeper target and Middlesbrough have had further discussions aimed at brokering a deal.
Boro are already known to have had an offer for the 26-year-old rejected, believed to be somewhere in the region of £5m.
Newcastle are demanding nearer the £8m mark and that has prevented a deal from taking place, despite a reluctance from other interested parties to go near to what Middlesbrough have offered.
Darlow is with the Magpies squad in Ireland for a training camp, despite being overlooked for last Friday’s friendly with Hearts at Tynecastle where Tim Krul was also left out.
Monk has considered a number of goalkeepers this summer, with Sheffield Wednesday’s Keiren Westwood and Leeds’ Rob Green two of those to have been under consideration.
There have also been suggestions that Darren Randolph is an option for both Middlesbrough and Newcastle following Joe Hart’s move to West Ham United.
But Darlow is the man Monk really wants to have in his squad as he looks for another option to Dimi Konstantopoulos following the departures of Victor Valdes and Brad Guzan.
If Middlesbrough can strike a deal for Darlow it will take their spending beyond the £35m mark following relegation. He would follow the permanent signings of Britt Assombalonga, Martin Braithwaite, Cyrus Christie and Jonny Howson.
As well as a new shot-stopper, Monk still wants to bring in a defender and winger, with Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo high in his sights.
Middlesbrough have agreed a loan deal with the Reds but so have Fulham, and Ojo has a choice to make. Newcastle are also in the market for him but are weighing up whether to make a £10m offer because of a reluctance to let him join a Premier League club on loan.
Monk is extremely satisfied with the progress made on the transfer front and is expected to field his new signings at Mansfield tonight.
Assombalonga is keen to get some match action for his new team having missed the opening couple of friendlies.
The 24-year-old said: “Driving inside this big place you get a nice vibe, it’s a nice welcome straight away. But I need to get games, Middlesbrough have already played twice this summer. I just want the minutes … and the goals.”
Middlesbrough smashed their club record fee by paying £15m for Assombalonga and he is not concerned by it. He is just excited by the challenge of delivering promotion under Monk’s watch.
He said: “The manager was down to earth, he showed me the mission and how he really wanted to work with me. He has a goal to get back to the Premier League.
"I bought into what he said and I only had one option and that was to move to Middlesbrough.
“Promotion is the aim, it’s the aim for a lot of clubs, we are in a stronger position, it’s going to be a big season and everyone is ready for it. The players coming in show we are ready for it.”
Assombalonga believes the signings Middlesbrough have made are a signal of intent to the rest of the Championship.
He said: “You can see the order of the transfers and how they have happened early so you have time to gel and be ready for the first game of the season.
“My move was building up, I didn’t know what was really happening because it was dependant on your parent club. The decision was made to part ways.
“It was difficult to leave in a sense because I have been there for a time. I wanted a new challenge. You want to make a stadium rocking (like at Forest) and hopefully I can make that here, I will work my hardest and look to push on.”
Middlesbrough youngster Callum Cooke is on the verge of a loan move to Blackpool.
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