Jonny Howson will undergo a Middlesbrough medical on Friday after beating Leeds United to his signature, according to the Sun.
The newspaper claim that Leeds sparked a transfer battle for the services of the Norwich City midfielder but are set to be beaten in the race by their ex-manager Garry Monk.
The Sun report that the final touches are being put to a transfer that will cost Boro £5million and make Howson the first major signing this summer of Monk, who quit as Leeds boss at the end of May to take the reigns at the Riverside Stadium.
It is not said how much Leeds were prepared to pay for Howson, but he represents a major coup for Boro given his Championship pedigree.
Howson, 29, emerged from the Leeds ranks to make 219 appearances before he quit in 2012 for Norwich, where he has been an influential player with 23 goals from midfield in 188 games.
His 2016-17 statistics at Carrow Road are also impressive, with 38 league matches yielding six goals and providing eight assists, but he has two years left on his deal and Norwich are keen to cash in on him to strengthen other areas of the squad.
Howson remains a huge favourites at Leeds, where he graduated from the academy to become club captain but left because they did not have the financial resources to keep him.
Monk has also been strongly linked with two players who starred for the Yorkshire giants under his command last season, goalkeeper Rob Green and centre-back Kyle Bartley.
Leeds have also been busy in the summer window, clinching their sixth signing of the summer on Thursday when Vurnon Anita joined on a free transfer after signing a three-year contract.
The Holland international follows Felix Wiedwald, Mateus Klich, Madger Gomes, Pontus Jansson and Hadi Sacko in signing permanent contracts with the club.