Boro eye Well star

McCormack: Boro bound?

Middlesbrough are reported to be closing in on a deal for Motherwell star Ross McCormack.

The 21-year-old forward is out of contract at Fir Park in the summer and is therefore free to hold talks with any interested clubs outside of Scotland.

Boro have taken advantage and reports say they have already agreed a pre-contract with the Scotland 'B' international.

Now Motherwell - who signed McCormack from Rangers in 2006 - are in danger of losing him for nothing so are hoping to recoup some money this month.

A deal for around £250,000 is now understood to be close to being concluded.

Boro are locked in talks with Brazilian duo Afonso Alves and Fred but manager Gareth Southgate's first forward capture of January now looks to becoming from a lot closer to home.

Meanwhile, reports from Italy have also credited Boro with an interest in Internazionale's highly-rated Macedonian hit-man Goran Slavkovski.