MIDDLESBROUGH hope to have completed the signing of striker Lukas Jutkiewicz in time to face Burnley – after injuries left their attacking options looking sparse.

Boro have agreed a fee of £1.5million rising to a potential £2million for the Coventry City striker, who was due on Teesside for a medical – with boss Tony Mowbray hoping to clinch a deal before the weekend.

With Scott McDonald a doubt and Bart Ogbeche ruled out of the Burnley game, the addition of Jutkiewicz will not come a moment too soon for the Boro chief.

Mowbray said: “I would like to think that, after the conversations we have had, in the next 24 to 48 hours he will become a Middlesbrough player.

“We have trailed him. It is whether deals can be done.

“I am sure Coventry would like to keep him but sometimes there is a necessity to sell.

“I do not get involved in that but we are aware of players who are available.

“It is fair to say a fee is just about there between the two clubs, but there are a lot of things to be done yet before it falls in to place.”

With owner Steve Gibson confirming this week there are funds to strengthen Boro’s promotion bid, Mowbray would like to strengthen other areas of the squad.

That recruitment drive will be dependant on freeing up space and funds by selling players though.

There has been interest from abroad in Estonia winger Tarmo Kink, who Mowbray will allow to leave the Riverside to secure more first team football.

Crown jewels Rhys Williams and Matt Bates will only be allowed to leave if the club receive sizeable offers, however.

Mowbray added: “Moving on we need to create space in the budget to move things around.

“I have no problem with the people who are not impacting on the first XI moving on.

“If it suits us financially and suits the player that is football.

“I will be very loathe to lose a player who is playing his part every week. It is a fine balancing act for us.

“We probably do need funds to bring players in but not by selling the wrong ones.

“We have an opportunity in front of us to compete to get out of this league where the rewards are much greater. We have decisions to make.

“If bids do come in for players who are running low on contract then there could be a decision to be made.”