Middlesbrough are believed to be closing in on the permanent signing of George Edmundson with a fee agreed with Ipswich Town after he was recalled from his loan earlier this week.

The defender was due to spend the rest of the season on loan at Boro before Ipswich's decision on Tuesday. He’d impressed so much on Teesside though that Boro began negotiations with the Premier League outfit over making the loan deal permanent this month, with the 27-year-old out of contract at Portman Road at the end of the season.

However, with the Tractor Boys ultimately rejecting Boro’s first two bids for Edmundson, they then decided to activate a loan recall clause on Tuesday as the deadline to be able to do so was due to expire that day. It meant Edmundson was unable to take part in Boro's win over West Brom.

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But after continuing talks in the days since, Boro are believed to have made a breakthrough with the Premier League side. It means Edmundson will be able to move out of the limbo Ipswich's decision put him in, and complete a permanent move to Teesside. He is expected to sign a deal until June 2027.

Asked a couple of days on from the debacle of his late recall if Boro might still try and do a deal with Ipswich, Carrick said on Thursday: “It’s something we’re looking to do. 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. There is definitely an option that we’re exploring and we will see if there is a possibility of getting him back here again.”

Carrick had been keen to tie Edmundson down to a longer-term contract at Boro after his impressive start at the club. The centre-back made 21 appearances in all competitions after joining on transfer deadline day last summer.

Elsewhere, young Boro defender George Gitau has joined Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers on loan until the end of the season. The right-back, 21, has played regularly for the under-21s this season and will now look to boost his experience playing senior football while north of the border.