Leeds United target Alan Hutton has begun negotiations with Middlesbrough over a potential move to the Riverside Stadium, according to Football Insider.
The former Scotland international was released by Aston Villa at the end of their promotion clinching Championship campaign, but is yet to secure a transfer having opted to hold fire on making a decision amid widespread interest.
Rangers, Nottingham Forest, Wigan Athletic, Hull City and Leeds are all believed to have sounded out moves for the right-back, who featured 33 times for the Villains last season as they triumphed in the Play-Offs.
Hutton saw his season end at the close of the regular campaign as he captained the Birmingham-based outfit to a 2-1 defeat at home to title-clinchers Norwich City, having returned from a medial collateral ligament injury sustained in February when he overstretched muscles in his knee.
The 34-year-old free agent had been a regular fixture in Villa’s starting eleven under Steve Bruce and Dean Smith prior to the blow, with his name only absent on two occasions – one of which was through a suspension enforced through yellow card infringements.
Middlesbrough head coach Jonathan Woodgate has turned his attention to acquiring the £900,000-rated veteran defender this summer, as his North-East outfit have grown frustrated in negotiations with Charlton Athletic for Anfernee Dijksteel.
Woodgate played with Hutton at Tottenham Hotspur earlier in their respective careers as well, while the former Scotland international’s ability to also play at left-back and, on occasion, centre-half has proven an attractive proposition for the Boro boss taking his first steps into life in management.
How advanced the North-East outfit’s efforts are remains to be seen, but Hutton appears to be nearing a move to another Championship side ahead of the curtain-raiser this weekend.