Leeds United are preparing a January move for Middlesbrough defender Daniel Ayala.
The Whites are leading Stoke City and Fulham in the race to sign the Spaniard, according to a report by the Northern Echo.
Middlesbrough are bracing themselves for interest in the experienced centre-back this winter but may have to sell him to balance the books.
Leeds are already being linked with potential January signings as Marcelo Bielsa looks to add to his squad. They are also believed to be interested in Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara, as reported by The72 earlier today.
Ayala, who is 28 years-old, is in his seventh season at the Riverside and has made over 200 appearances for Boro.
He helped them gain promotion to the Premier League in 2016, a campaign in which he got into the PFA Championship Team of the Season, but couldn’t prevent his side from an immediate relegation back to the second tier.
Ayala started his career in his native Spain with Sevilla but moved to England in 2007. He made his top flight debut in a league fixture against Tottenham Hotspur in August 2009 and went onto make a further four appearances for the Reds.
He gained first team experience out on loan as a youngster at Hull City and Derby County before leaving Anfield on a permanent basis to join Norwich City for a fee of around £800,000 in August 2011.
Ayala struggled to nail down a regular spot with the Canaries and was loaned out to Nottingham Forest prior to his switch to Middlesbrough in 2013.
Boro will now have to fend off interest from Leeds to hold onto him.