Ryan Giles is closing in on a return to Middlesbrough after being given permission by Hull City to travel to Teesside on Thursday and complete his medical.

Boro and Hull City remain in talks but a deal being reached is believed to be extermely close, meaning the Tigers gave the left-back permission to travel to Teesside on Thursday. He was at Rockliffe to sort his side of the move and complete his medical.

It's a huge bonus to Boro head coach Michael Carrick, who has pushed to re-sign the attacking full-back since his successful loan at the club in 2022-23. He registered 12 assists for Boro in that campaign as Carrick's side reached the play-offs.

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But after Boro missed out on promotion, Giles opted to join Luton Town that summer as they won promotion and offered him an opportunity to test himself in the Premier League. When that move didn't work out, he moved to Hull City last January, in a loan deal that obligated the Tigers to purchase him permanently in the summer.

Boro made attempts to take advantage of Hull's uncertain financial picture in the summer to see Giles return at that point. However, after extensive talks throughout the window, a deal was not reached and Giles remained at the MKM Stadium. But still struggling to make an impression on Humberside, new boss Ruben Selles was keen to offload this month in order to fund his own incoming deals. They will be signing Southampton left-back Charlie Taylor on loan until the end of the season.

Confirming Giles' medical, albeit while not naming Boro, Selles told BBC Radio Humberside: "Ryan Giles and Ryan Longman have both been given permission today to go and finalise their deal with other clubs and take their medical. Again, if there is an agreement and everything is done hopefully everyone will know [who the clubs are]."