Aaron Connolly is set to complete a medical ahead of his loan move to Middlesbrough, it has been reported.
The Republic of Ireland international has fallen out of favour at Brighton and Hove Albion and is set to drop down to the Championship as he hopes to increase playing time.
And the Galway man will undergo a medical on Thursday with the move nearly complete.
Connolly, 21, has only played six games for Brighton this season and has not featured for Ireland since the 1-1 draw with Azerbaijan in September.
The striker is one of a number of players Boro boss Chris Wilder is bringing in to bolster the club's Championship promotion push from sixth place.
The Galwegian was close to a loan move in August but that fell through, and will be eager to move for regular game-time.
“We are close to a couple," said Wilder on his transfer targets. "We want to bring players in and we’re doing that as we speak
“It’s not the quickest of markets, but we’re working, I should imagine, as hard as any team in this division to make things happen.
“There is a specific number that I’m looking to bring in, there is a specific number I’m looking to balance going out as well so it might be a bit of a juggling act really.
“I don’t think we will get them all done before the Mansfield (FA Cup) game but I’m really optimistic that we can get one or two in before that, which will be good."
Connolly was withdrawn at half-time in his last international against Azerbaijan in his last international appearance, and was not used as a sub in the October games against the Azeris and Qatar.
He wasn't selected by Stephen Kenny for the final Ireland games of the year, the last two World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Luxembourg, although Kenny said that was due to Connolly suffering a heel injury.
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