Middlesbrough are set to complete the £5million signing of former winger Stewart Downing from West Ham United, according to The Gazette.
The 30-year-old wants to move back to the North East and is expected to sign a five-year deal at his home-town club, with further payment going to the Hammers based on performance.
This is a massive deal for Boro as they look to bounce back from their Championship play-off final defeat by Norwich City at Wembley in May.
Sunderland were also said to be interested in Downing but he has decided to re-join the Teessiders in the Championship instead.
Downing has lots of top-flight experience under his belt
The England international - who has 35 caps - left Boro six years ago when he joined Aston Villa for a fee of £12m.
Two years later he made the move to Liverpool after Kenny Dalglish paid £20m to take him to Anfield. The 30-year-old didn't enjoy the best of times on Merseyside and after two years at Liverpool he signed for West Ham in the summer of 2013.
Downing has recently been training on his own at the Hammers' Chadwell Heath training base and after Slaven Bilic's arrival at the club and his desire to sign Manuel Lanzini, according to HITC.
West Ham's business means Downing is free to leave
Lanzini will complete his move to the Hammers from Espanyol on Thursday upon his arrival in the country, allowing Downing to finalise his transfer back to Middlesbrough.
West Ham agreed terms with Al Jazira earlier this month to sign the 22-year-old on-loan for the season with a view to a permanent transfer.
Since making his professional début for Boro in 2002 aged 17, he has made 493 appearances in all competitions, scoring 50 goals.
Downing is set to have a medical at Boro tomorrow and all going well he could join up with Aitor Karanka’s squad at their Spanish training camp in Marbella later this week.
More signings expected at the Riverside
Espanyol striker Christian Stuani is also expected to sign for Boro by the start of next week, though confirmation could be delayed as the forward is on extended holiday following his Copa America involvement with Uruguay.
They are also still looking into signing another forward, but Ipswich Town forward Daryl Murphy has been struck from their wishlist after signing a new contract with the Tractor Boys.