Middlesbrough FC latest: Aidan Morris fee, Ryan Giles/Hull City, Anfernee Dijksteel, Riley McGree | OneFootball

Things have really started to heat up lately regarding Middlesbrough's summer transfer plans, as the club appear to have secured their second summer signing, as well as make clear their intentions for two other moves.

This summer's transfer window was always going to be a vital one for Middlesbrough, as Boro head coach Michael Carrick looks to put the finishing touches on his squad in order to deliver a real promotion challenge next season.

Boro moved quickly to secure the permanent addition of loan star Luke Ayling, as the right-back penned a two-year deal with the club.

Middlesbrough's head of football Kieran Scott outlined Middlesbrough's summer transfer intentions last month, with a central midfielder, a striker and a versatile forward who is comfortable as a number 10, being at the top of Boro's wishlist.

With plenty happening in recent days, Football League World takes a look at the latest news coming out of Teesside.

Aidan Morris transfer agreed

It was recently revealed by Teesside Live that Middlesbrough were 'down the line' with negotiations for a central midfield player, and now it appears we know who that individual is.

That is because according to a report by USA national team and MLS journalist Tom Bogert via The Athletic, Middlesbrough have agreed a $4m (approx £3.1m) deal to sign American international and Columbus Crew midfielder Aidan Morris.

Bogert reports that the deal includes a sell-on clause, whilst also revealing that Morris has had a long-term ambition of playing football in Europe.

Morris, 22, is a high-energy box-to-box midfield player, with an eye for goal as well as being very sound defensively.

The young midfielder has departed the Under-23 national team camp to travel to Teesside in order to finalise the final details, but the deal will not be completed until Morris plays his last game for the Crew, sources say via The Athletic.

The Crew's next game is this Saturday (15 June) against New York City FC, and once that game has concluded, it is then expected he will turn his attention to his new career as a Middlesbrough player.

A two-time MLS Cup winner with Columbus Crew, Morris missed the entire 2021 season due to injury, but has taken his game to another level since his return, and will hope to become a key player in the heart of Boro's midfield under Carrick.

Morris is expected to take part in the Paris Olympics this summer with the US team, that is so long as Middlesbrough are happy for him to do so, which is not yet clear.

Boro rekindle Ryan Giles interest

Ryan Giles is a player that shone under Carrick during the 2022/23 season, with his 11 Championship assists being the most of any player in the division that year.

Off the back of that impressive campaign, the 24-year-old sealed a move to Premier League side Luton Town, but after failing to nail down a regular starting role in Rob Edward's side, the left-back was loaned back to the second tier with Hull City last season.

There he played 17 times for then Tigers boss Liam Rosenior, registering just the one assist. Now new boss Tim Walter is casting his over his new squad, one which will - at least for the time being - include Giles, as Hull are obligated to make the loan move permanent for £4m this summer.

The Northern Echo have now revealed that Boro are looking to capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding Giles' future, by rekindling their interest in their once flying wideman.

In a different report by The Northern Echo, they reveal that Boro would prefer an initial loan deal for Giles, with a view to making it a permanent transfer later down the line, but that Middlesbrough wouldn't be paying anything close to the £4m that Hull are obligated to hand over.

Anfernee Dijksteel free to leave

Despite all the talk of incomings, and the fact that Boro are taking a 'not for sale' stance regarding their key players this summer, they are prepared to listen to offers for those on the fringes of Carrick's squad.

One of those players is Suriname international Anfernee Dijksteel, as The Northern Echo have revealed that the right-back is a player that Boro will look to sell this summer.

Arriving back in 2019 from Charlton Athletic, the 27-year-old has been a good servant to the club when fit and selected, that there lies one of the reasons why Boro are perhaps happy to sell this summer, as he's struggled to stay fit in recent times.

Once one of the first names on the teamsheet, particularly under Neil Warnock and the early stages of Chris Wilder's tenure, Dijksteel has drifted ever further into the shadows at the Riverside Stadium in past seasons.

He doesn't appear to have the attacking output that Carrick requires from his full-backs, and with just 12 months remaining on his contract, Boro have taken the decision to cash in now rather than lose him for nothing next year.

The aforementioned addition of Ayling, and the return of a player whom Carrick trusts in Tommy Smith, means regular football is going to be extremely tough for Dijksteel to find going forward, and this news is perhaps the outcome that will suit both parties.

Riley McGree discusses future

Murmurings of a potential Middlesbrough exit for Riley McGree have whispered through the Riverside Stadium for a little while now.

The Australian international is undoubtedly a talented player, and has proven vital to Middlesbrough on many occasions during his three-year spell on Teesside.

But due to a mix of injury problems, international tournaments and being lost in Boro's attacking options, McGree has been largely out of Carrick's sight over the last year, as the Boro squad has already had to learn to live without him.

And now with just 12 months remaining on his current Middlesbrough contract, the 25-year-old has a big decision to make regarding where he's going to be playing his football for the future, and it's a decision he needs to make pretty soon.

Speaking in an interview with Australian news site 7News Adelaide via Teesside Live, McGree had this to say regarding his current situation: "Every season is important. I'm going out there as I would any season, (whether that) be with Middlesbrough again or elsewhere. I have to say I love the club and the people there."

It appears then, that the Socceroos star is keeping all options firmly on the table, whilst admitting that Middlesbrough is a club that he loves playing for.

Teesside Live report that the two parties have engaged in negotiations, but are currently some distance apart in agreeing the terms of what a suitable deal would look like.

An interesting few weeks await us regarding McGree's future, as if he makes it clear that he no longer wishes to extend his time in the North Easy beyond 2025, Boro may well look to take the money and run this summer.