Middlesbrough Manager Garry Monk is looking to beat old club Leeds to the signing of Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson, according to the Mirror.
The news outlet have detailed on their transfer blog (Friday, 1.34pm) that the recently relegated club are ready to meet the Canaries’ £5million price tag placed on the 29-year-old.
It is detailed that Howson is a long-term target of Monk’s with the 38-year-old understood to be trailing him while he was manager of the Yorkshire giants.
It is also reported that midfielder himself wanted a return to Elland Road after leaving for Norwich five years ago.
However, Middlesbrough are financed with parachute payments following their relegation and owner Steve Gibson has also promised to back Monk following his appointment earlier in the month.
Howson is a fan favourite at Leeds after making his first team debut back in 2006 before going on to play 219 times in total, returning 27 goals and 22 assists from his midfield position.
But, supporters could be about to become disappointed if the ex-England Under-21 international does decide to join Monk at the Riverside Stadium.
Leeds themselves have already brought in central midfielder Mateusz Klich this summer and while they are expected to add further, they may not look to match Middlesbrough’s offer.