Middlesbrough midfielder Marten de Roon is closing on a £9million return to former club Atalanta.
The 26-year-old has been keen on a move since Boro's relegation and the Italians are hopeful of concluding a deal before the weekend.
Boro are still in negotiations with Birmingham City for Ryan Shotton.
Birmingham had hoped to bring in Stewart Downing as part of that deal but financial implications have yet to be resolved.
Any move for the 33-year-old is now expected to be separate to the deal involving Shotton.