Middlesbrough's midfield transfer stance as ex-loanee 'interests' promotion rivals

MIDDLESBROUGH could come up against former loanee Lewis O'Brien next season, with the Nottingham Forest midfielder of interest to Luton Town and Norwich City, according to fresh reports.

After spending last season at Boro, O'Brien is expected to be on the move again this summer, with Forest looking to offload the midfielder, who doesn't feature in the plans of boss Nuno Espirito Santo. Forest are set to bolster their midfield with the capture of Newcastle's Elliot Anderson today.

Forest are said to favour a permanent sale of O'Brien this summer, according to The Sun, with Luton and Norwich keeping tabs on the former Huddersfield man's situation.

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Boro decided against re-signing O'Brien at the end of his loan spell last season and that stance won't change this summer.

The arrival of Aidan Morris last week means Boro now have a strong five-man battle for places in midfield, which includes Law McCabe after his emergence last season.

Reports in Turkey claiming Boro have made a bid for Berat Özdemir are wide of he mark. The 26-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Trabzonspor from Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq, has never been of interest to Boro.