Sammy Ameobi looks set to remain in the Championship after being let go by Nottingham Forest.
The winger is available as a free agent as his Reds deal was not renewed this summer, with his contract officially coming to an end this week.
And it is said Forest’s second-tier rivals Middlesbrough are on course to win the race for his signature - potentially making for a quick return to the City Ground for Ameobi as an opposition player.
The 29-year-old has also been linked with Birmingham City and Turkish top-flight side Goztepe, as well as being said to have offers from elsewhere in Europe.
But Boro are “closing in” on signing him, according to Football League World.
And with the Reds due to host Neil Warnock’s side on Wednesday, September 15, Ameobi could soon be lining up against his former side on familiar turf.
Should the move to the Riverside go through, the former Bolton Wanderers man would be back at the club where he had a loan spell in 2013 while at Newcastle United.
Ameobi put pen to paper for the Reds two years ago, after leaving the Trotters.
He made a total of 81 appearances in the Garibaldi and scored eight goals, including bagging three in 34 games during the last campaign.
He was one of six players let go by Forest as part of a squad reshuffle by boss Chris Hughton in preparation for a promotion push.
Michael Dawson, Michael Hefele, Yuri Ribeiro, Samba Sow and Abdoulaye Diallo were also released, while Glenn Murray announced his decision to hang up his boots.
