Middlesbrough hope to wrap up the £6million signing of Aston Villa striker Rudy Gestede in time for him to play in the FA Cup next weekend.
Boro boss Aitor Karanka has acted quickly to cure his side's goalscoring problems with chairman Steve Gibson managing to put a financial package together for the 28-year-old Benin international to beat off West Brom and Crystal Palace.
Gestede should be available for Sunday's third round tie against Sheffield Wednesday and the African Cup of Nations is not an issue as his country didn't qualify.
The centre forward's impending arrival could spell the end for Jordan Rhodes and David Nugent at the Riverside.