KIERAN McKenna has confirmed Middlesbrough remain in talks with Ipswich Town over a permanent deal for George Edmundson.

The centre-half is currently on a season-long loan at the Riverside but Boro want to make that switch permanent before the end of the January transfer window.

Boro's initial offer, which sources at the Ipswich end say was worth an initial £350,000, was rejected earlier this week, but discussions between the two clubs are ongoing.

“I don’t think there’s anything to announce, but I believe that there’s interest there," McKenna told the East Anglian Daily Times on Wednesday.

“I think there are some discussions going on that I haven’t been involved in. He’s been having a good season, which is great to see. Middlesbrough are having another good season.

“I think there’s some interest on that side. Whether a deal is possible to be done, I’m not sure.”

Edmundson has started 19 of Boro's 26 Championship games so far this season. And while Rav van den Berg and Dael Fry have started the last two games together, the Ipswich loanee is above Matt Clarke in the pecking order, and it remains unclear when long-term absentee Darragh Lenihan will return.

Signing Edmundson now would mean Boro avoid any summer uncertainty, when the defender, who is out of contract with Ipswich at the end of the season, would be free to speak to other clubs.

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Making the deal permanent this month would also allow Boro to open up another loan space in their squad. Ben Doak is the only other loanee in the ranks at the minute and five are allowed in a matchday squad, so there's plenty of leeway as things stand.

But if Boro opt to push for Bournemouth's Mark Travers - a potential target as they assess the goalkeeper situation this month - that would only leave two further spots.

Boro's preference this month is permanent deals but having loan spaces in the squad gives them a crucial back-up option as the window progresses.

Travers is expected to be available for loan this month, but Bournemouth were unwilling to give any move the green light until last night's game against Chelsea had taken place. Travers played for the Cherries with first choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, on loan from Chelsea, unable to play against his parent club.

Boro remain in talks with Hull City over the potential signing of former loanee Ryan Giles this month, but discussions are not as advanced as some reports suggested on Wednesday morning.