Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo is poised to join Middlesbrough on loan from Chelsea.
Middlesbrough’s Spanish manager Aitor Karanka confirmed a deal is being finalised after their 2-0 loss to Hull City in the FA Cup third round.
Karanka knows Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho well having been his as assistant at Real Madrid.
“I am happy (Omeruo) will come here to help us. I think that he will come until the end of the season,” he said.
However any deal for Ghana’s Michael Essien seems less likely.
” I said to him [Jose Mourinho] ‘listen, can I take Michael Essien’ – maybe not, but me and the club are working to take players,” he added.
BBC Sport understands the clubs have agreed a deal in principle, with Omeruo set to finalise the move by Monday.
The 20-year-old has been training with the Chelsea first team, but knows he needs regular football to make the Nigeria squad for June’s World Cup.
A shoulder injury suffered at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil meant he was unable to go on loan in September.
Omeruo signed for Chelsea from Standard Liege in January 2012 and immediately went on loan to Dutch top-flight side ADO Den Haag.
Then only 19, he impressed enough in the Eredivisie to win a place in Nigeria’s starting line-up as they won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.