Middlesbrough are hoping to have an answer on Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers within the next 48 hours as they aim to land the Ireland international on loan.

Strengthening their goalkeeper department has become a real priority this month with both Sol Brynn (shoulder) and Seny Dieng (Achilles) out long term. That leaves Tom Glover as the only senior keeper in the squad currently, with young academy prospect Shea Connor making the bench in recent weeks.

Boro have been working on a loan deal to sign Travers from Bournemouth, and look set to beat Watford to his signature if the Premier League side allow him to leave this month. Travers, 24, is said to be desperate to get out and play more football in the second half of the season, having found himself behind Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga in the pecking order.

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However, Bournemouth sanctioning a loan move this month was delayed by an injury suffered to third-choice keeper Will Dennis. It is now understood that Dennis has returned to full training though, with Bournemouth expected to make a decision in the coming days on Travers. If the Cherries decide against a Travers loan, Boro do have alternative options to turn to.

Meanwhile, Boro continue talks with French side Rennes over a loan move for Glen Kamara. The former Leeds United and Rangers midfielder fell out of favour with new boss Jorge Sampaoli and has been ostracised from the first-team squad.

With Dan Barlaser potentially leaving before the end of the transfer window, Boro would like to add a player of Kamara's ilk to steel up their midfield. However, after completing a €10 million move to the Ligue 1 side in the summer, the Finland international is a high earner and Boro would be unable to cover the full cost of his wages.

Like with Travers, they have alternative targets they may consider as they look to strengthen their midfield department before Monday evening's transfer deadline. But, for now, Boro remain in talks with Rennes and Kamara's representatives in a bid to work it out to make the Riverside move a possibility.

And in what could be a busy final week of the window, Boro are also currently monitoring their centre-back situation as Matt Clarke looks set to re-join Derby County. Having fallen down the pecking order at Boro, he is moving closer to a return to Pride Park after two successful years there on loan from 2019.

Having just signed Goerge Edmundson permanently this month, Boro also have Dael Fry and Rav van den Berg as centre-back options. Darragh Lenihan is a long-term absentee and his return date is unknown. On top of that, Boro have promising young star Harley Hunt in their academy, while Luke Ayling, Anfernee Dijksteel and Neto Borges have all played centre-back previously.

Boro are considering their options if Clarke does leave, but finances are likely to be tight, with an increasing likelihood that Emmanuel Latte Lath will remain at the club until the end of the season. The striker was the subject of a bid from Atlanta United this month but appears more likely to stay at Boro now, unless any unexpected Premier League offer were submitted. His current injury status is unknown too, after he went off with a groin issue at Preston North End. Boro had options in mind for striker if Latte Lath left, with Slovakian international David Strelec linked. But signing a centre-forward for £6-8m appears unlikely this month if the Ivorian stays.