Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka wants to sign two of his former players this summer as the Spaniard eyes a move for both Adam Clayton and Patrick Bamford, according to The Mirror.
Karanka was sacked by Boro during their Premier League campaign in 16/17 after a falling out with the backroom staff at The Riverside.
Middlesbrough lost out to Aston Villa in the Playoff Semi Final last season, and Tony Pulis will want to replicate that success again next season.
It is understood that the former West Brom boss is reluctant to let the pair leave the club as he wants to keep the core of the squad together for next year.
Bamford was a key part of the Boro squad last campaign as he netted on 13 occasions to help fire Pulis’ side up the Championship table.
Clayton moved to the club in 2014 from Huddersfield Town, for a reported fee of £1.5m.
The central midfielder has racked up 150 appearances for the club, scoring one goal.
Clayton had previously been told he could leave Middlesbrough by Karanka following the signing of Marten De Roon in the Premier League, but the 29 year old impressed the Spaniard and managed to work his way back in to his first team plans.
Now, Karanka wants to bring him to the City Ground, alongside teammate Patrick Bamford.
After a disappointing campaign last season, Nottingham Forest have already flexed their financial muscles this summer in a bid to mount a push for the Playoffs.
The signings of Bamford and Clayton would help improve the Forest squad and inject some much needed Playoff experience to the ranks at the City Ground.
