GEORGE Edmundson will undergo his Middlesbrough medical today ahead of completing a permanent switch after a deal was agreed with Ipswich Town.

Negotiations between the two clubs continued after Ipswich recalled Edmundson from his loan spell at the Riverside earlier this week. An agreement was reached on Thursday.

Reports at the Ipswich end claim Boro will pay an initial fee of £500,000 plus some potential add-ons. Edmundson is set to sign a two and a half year contract.

Returning to the Riverside on a permanent basis will delight the defender, who instantly settled on Teesside after joining on loan at the start of the season. He played an important role in the first half of the season, leading to Boro's efforts to make the deal permanent this month.

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After two initial bids were knocked back, Ipswich made the surprise decision to recall Edmundson, even though he was out of contract at the end of this season and was unable to play for any club other than Boro or the Tractor Boys in the second half of the season.

But Michael Carrick confirmed after Tuesday's game against West Brom and again at his press conference on Thursday that Boro were still interested in signing the 27-year-old on a permanent basis. A deal was agreed shortly after Carrick had spoken to the media on Thursday.

With Boro's squad set to travel this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's game against Preston, it's not clear at this stage whether the deal will be finalised in time for Edmundson to be involved tomorrow.

Quizzed on the Edmundson situation on Thursday, Carrick said: "There are a number of things we’re trying to do that we feel will make the group stronger. That probably sums it up because he has been a big part of us. He’s done ever so well since coming here and has played a lot of football."

Edmundson will follow Ryan Giles through the door at Boro after the left-back completed his loan move on Thursday. He will train with his new teammates for the first time today ahead of the Preston game.