MIDDLESBROUGH are understood to have struck a deal for Hull City’s Republic of Ireland striker Caleb Folan but are delaying the move.

Folan will join Middlesbrough on an initial three-month loan with a view to a permanent switch.

However, Middlesbrough would ideally like to use the striker against Newcastle on December 19th, so they are not going to finalise the move until this Friday. “We talked long and hard over the last two weeks over who we would let go,” said Hull boss Phil Brown and as a result, we’ve allowed Caleb to talk with Middlesbrough.”