Premier League club Middlesbrough are understood to be in talks with American International Michael Bradley about a proposed transfer to the Riverside Stadium from Eredivisie team Heerenveen, according to reports.

21-year-old midfielder Bradley has been at Heerenveen since he joined from MetroStars in 2005, with the midfielder making 55 appearances for the Dutch side.

Bradley has refused to sign a new deal with Heerenveen and only has a year left on his current contract. Which has alerted Boro along with Blackburn Rovers, Everton and “Old Firm’ side Celtic, but it is believed that Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has made a late move to bring the American to the Premiership.

The North East side had claimed that the transfer of Justin Hoyte from Arsenal would be the last arrival at Boro, but with the injury to Julio Arca and the departure from the Riverside of four midfielder’s this summer. Southgate has decided to act.