Middlesbrough have won the race to sign Mark Travers on loan, with the Bournemouth goalkeeper having his medical on Teesside today.

Travers had been a target of Boro’s all month, but they had to remain patient to get it over the line. As Teesside Live reported on Tuesday, Boro were expecting a definitive answer on the 25-year-old’s availability by end of play Thursday, with the Cherries ultimately sanctioning the exit and allowing Travers to travel north on Tuesday evening.

Boro identified Travers as a potential signing after Sol Brynn suffered a shoulder injury shortly after displacing Seny Dieng as first-choice. That put Dieng’s future in doubt this month, only for the Senegal international to suffer an Achilles injury which has required surgery, leaving Boro in need of a new keeper.

But they had to be patient to land top target Travers, who also had interest from Watford. The Ireland international was desperate to leave this month to play more football. But Bournemouth couldn’t allow him to leave until after their Premier League clash with Chelsea on January 14 because first-choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is on loan from Stamford Bridge and was unable to play that game.

With hope that things would move after that, Bournemouth then suffered an injury blow as third-choice keeper Will Dennis suffered an injury, meaning the Cherries couldn’t let Travers leave. But keeping their nerve, Boro waited patiently and were handed the major transfer boost this week when Dennis returned to full training, thus allowing Travers’ exit.

The goalkeeper has extensive Championship experience, including 42 appearances in the season Bournemouth won promotion back to the Premier League. Really good with his feet, he’s seen as an ideal fit for Michael Carrick’s style.

Meanwhile, Boro are also close to completing a second signing for their under-21 side this month. Celtic defender Josh Dede is also believed to be having a Boro medical today, having agreed to join the club.

Like midfielder Brayden Johnson, who joined from Eastbourne Borough last week, Dede is expected to initially link up with Boro’s second string, led by Mark Tinkler. The 19-year-old is a right-back who can also play on the wing.

A promising young prospect who Boro scouts have identified as a potential future star, he was out of contract at Celtic at the end of the season and Boro could have signed a pre-contract agreement for him to arrive in the summer. But, able to agree a low fee with heavily-incentivised performance-related add-ons attached, Boro were able to secure his arrival right away.