Middlesbrough are swooping for West Brom defender James Chester.

The Daily Star says Boro are set to land Chester in a £4m deal.

With Daniel Ayala and new signing Bernardo Espinosa unlikely to be fit for the Premier League curtain-raiser at home to Stoke, boss Aitor Karanka is short of defensive options.

He's already enquired about Hull's Harry Maguire but his top target is ex-Tiger Chester.

The defender quit the KCOM Stadium following relegation 12 months ago but has been frustrated by his lack of opportunities with the Baggies.

And it's understood he'd jump at the chance of a move to the Riverside.