Middlesbrough goalkeeper Darren Randolph looks set to sign for West Ham United with a deal expected to be finalised sometime this week, according to reports in the local media.

Boro have been holding out for the £5m they paid the Hammers for the Irish international two and a half years ago, but it appears that a transfer fee in the region of £4m has been agreed.

Randolph has not played since late November due to a thigh problem, but Aynsley Pears has deputised ably for the 32-year-old in the last nine league games, keeping three clean sheets in the recent wins versus Huddersfield, West Brom and Preston.

Even so, it will be a blow to lose such an experienced goalkeeper, with Randolph likely to be West Ham’s number two behind Lukasz Fabianski.

Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate will be looking to use the funds to finance a move for a new striker this month, with the Teessiders having struggled to score goals this season.