Middlesbrough are close to securing a deal for Argentine midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma.

Boro have been linked with the 24-year old former QPR and Walsall man for a few months now with manager Tony Mowbray suggesting a contract is expected to be sorted as soon as possible.

"He's someone I'm confident talking about because he's out of contract and unattached," said Mowbray.

"Having watched him last year, we know he's a talented boy. He's a centre forward who drops into midfield and links the play up well. He's left-footed and has a real work ethic.

"At the moment the boy's in Buenos Aires and we won't put a rubber stamp on it until the ink's dry on the contract. But we're reasonably close to tying something up.

"I would hope he'll be back early next week for a medical and if everything's fine with that, there's a fair chance he'll become a Boro player."

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