Middlesbrough are hoping to make a breakthrough in their pursuit of Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford in the January transfer window.
Head coach Aitor Karanka is looking to strengthen his attacking options this month, and Boro are keeping their fingers crossed that a deal for the £6million-rated 23-year-old can be struck.
Bamford spent a successful season-long loan spell at the Riverside Stadium during the 2014-15 campaign, where he was named the Championship Player of the Year after scoring 17 league goals.
He has since been sent out to Crystal Palace, Norwich and Burnley - from where he was recalled at the weekend - but has played far less football than he would have liked and been unable to prove his worth.