Sky Sports is reporting ChampionshipMiddlesbrough have agreed a deal with former Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead. The Teessiders have been in talks with 31 year old for a number of weeks following his release by Stoke City and he is now undergoing a medical ahead of putting pen to paper.

Whitehead returns to the North East after spending five years with rivals Sunderland before moving to Stoke in 2009.