MIDDLESBROUGH are poised to sign Wanderers defender Alex Baptiste – paving the way for Derik Osede to complete a deal this weekend.

One of the squad’s higher earners, Baptiste had one year remaining on his contract at the Macron Stadium after spending most of last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers.

Neil Lennon had said he wanted to take a closer look at the 29-year-old in the next few weeks but when Boro’s interest became apparent, it freed finances for him to complete a deal for the highly-rated Real Madrid youth product Osede, who is a Spain Under-21 international.

It is understood from sources in Spain that Osede is due in for a medical at Wanderers tomorrow (Saturday) and should all go well, he will join Lennon’s squad in Austria when they fly out the following day.

Boro will pay a small fee for Baptiste, which could also go some way towards another of Lennon’s top targets in Dutch defender Nick Kuipers, who is currently playing a MVV Maastricht.