Middlesbrough have made a £300,000 offer for Hartlepool winger Nathan Thomas.
League One champions Sheffield United made an offer earlier this week, which was accepted by Hartlepool.
However Boro have made a bid to keep Thomas in the north east and sign him from Pools, who have been relegated from the Football league.
Thomas scored nine goals for Hartlepool, despite their struggles in League Two, and has also attracted interest from Wolves, Fulham and QPR.
The 22-year-old was on the books of Newcastle United and Sunderland as a teenager.