Middlesbrough on verge of announcing double striker signing of Marcus Forss and Matthew Hoppe within 48 hours

Middlesbrough are hoping to announce the signings of strikers Marcus Forss and Matthew Hoppe within 48 hours, TEAMtalk understands.

Boro want another two strikers, and that would then allow them to move on Duncan Watmore and Chuba Akpom. Boro have received offers for both players but are not in a position to allow either to move until they sign cover.

However, they have now made progress on deals to sign 23-year-old Forss from Brentford and 21-year-old Hoppe from Mallorca.

Finland international Forss spent the second half of last season on loan in the Championship with Hull City. He had previously played 50 times in Brentford’s promotion-winning season, scoring 10 goals in all competitions.

He failed to find the net from seven subsequent Premier League appearances. However, his record in cup competitions was still positive.

Then, during his time with Hull City, he managed just one goal from 11 Championship appearances. Now, he could be ready for another stint in the second tier.

Meanwhile, Hoppe signed for Mallorca from Schalke last summer. He only started one match in La Liga, though, and is yet to score from seven appearances in all competitions for his current club.

The 21-year-old American international could therefore be on the move again. Middlesbrough may be able to give him his first taste of English football.

Meanwhile, Marcus Tavernier will have a medical with AFC Bournemouth on Thursday, but deal might not be announced until Boro sign another midfielder.

Matthew Hoppe to join another American at Middlesbrough

Chris Wilder’s side finished just outside the play-off places last season, coming seventh in the Championship. So far, all of their summer arrivals have been loan deals or free transfers.

But they are receiving funds from sales of players like Djed Spence and Tavernier to Premier League clubs. In turn, they will be able to pay for a couple of new reinforcements.

Sources elsewhere have indicated that they could be signing Forss for a fee of £3million. Hoppe would also be signing on a permanent basis, so it seems.

The latter would become the second American signing of the summer at the Riverside Stadium after the addition of goalkeeper Zack Steffen on loan from Manchester City. Both will be hoping to help Boro and also boost their own chances of making it to the World Cup in November.