Middlesbrough are eyeing Chelsea fullback Abdul Baba Rahman.

Rahman was sidelined by a knee injury for most of the 2019/20 season while on loan at Spanish side Mallorca but the 26-year-old left-back appears to be ready for a return to competitive action after attending pre-season training at Cobham.

The Northern Echo says Chelsea officials had lined up a couple of continental loan moves, but they failed to come to fruition before the overseas transfer window, meaning they cannot be resurrected until January at the earliest.

Rahman's best chance of competing for a first-team place in the next two months will come via a loan move to the Championship, and Middlesbrough are one of around half-a-dozen clubs to have been in touch with the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Rahman, who could also play as the left of three centre-halves, would almost certainly become Boro's new first-choice if he was to agree to a move to Teesside, but a number of other Championship clubs are also hoping to pull off a deal. Watford are known to have made a formal offer to Chelsea officials, while Derby County have also expressed an interest.

The loan window for Championship clubs closes at 5pm this Friday.