Sources: Middlesbrough working on last-gasp Ciaran Clark signing as Dan Burn undergoes Newcastle United medical
Middlesbrough are working on a deadline-day deal to sign Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark, Football Insider understands.
The Premier League club could be open to letting Clark, 32, leave by Monday night as they finalise the signing of Dan Burn from Brighton.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder has moved for Clark after making a left-sided centre-back one of his top priorities this month.
The Republic of Ireland international is set to fall further down the pecking order in Eddie Howe’s plans upon the imminent arrival of Burn.
Newcastle have agreed a £13million fee with Brighton for Burn and he has been given the green light to head to the north-east to finalise the deal.
Clark has been heavily criticised by Magpies fans for his performances this season.
This came to a head as he was booed off the pitch after receiving a straight red card just nine minutes into the Toon’s must-win match against Norwich on 30 November.
He has only made two appearances since that red card but featured in Newcastle’s friendly game against Al-Ittihad during their trip to Saudi Arabia last week.
However, he also received a red card in that game after he appeared to lash out at an Al-Ittihad player after a challenge.
Newcastle have been trying to strengthen their backline throughout January and saw moves for Lille’s Sven Botman and Sevilla’s Diego Carlos fail to materialise.
Burn is set to become the club’s fourth signing of the window, allowing Clark to potentially leave.
The central defender has made 129 appearances for the club after joining them upon their relegation to the Championship in 2016.
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