Boro agree fee with Hammers for striker Fletcher

ASHLEY Fletcher will hold talks with Middlesbrough after they agreed a fee with West Ham.

The 21-year-old striker has left the Hammers’ training camp in Germany ahead of the proposed move, Boro have confirmed.

Reports have suggested the fee is around £7million as Boro continue to spend big as they seek an immediate return to the Premier League.

A club statement read: “Boro have agreed a deal in principle with West Ham United to sign striker Ashley Fletcher.

“The former Manchester United youth player has left West Ham’s training camp in Germany and is heading to Boro for talks.”

Fletcher made just two league starts for West Ham after signing from Manchester United in 2016.

He appeared 20 times for the Hammers, scoring once, having failed to play for United - although he did have a successful loan spell at Barnsley in 2015-16.

Boro have already broken their transfer record to sign Britt Assombalonga from Nottingham Forest for £14million this summer.

They have also captured goalkeeper Darren Randolph from West Ham, striker Martin Braithwaite from Toulouse while Jonny Howson joined from Norwich.

BOURNEMOUTH striker Lewis Grabban has joined Sky Bet Championship side Sunderland on a seasonlong loan deal.

Grabban, who has scored 36 goals during two spells at the Vitality Stadium, has decided to drop down to the Championship to join a side relegated from the Premier League last season.

The 29-year-old has also played for Norwich, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Brentford and Rotherham.

After helping the Cherries achieve promotion to the Championship he moved to Norwich in 2014 before returning to Bournemouth 18 months ago.

He was on loan at Reading last season where he scored three goals in 15 appearances, including playing in the play-off final where the Royals lost on penalties to Huddersfield.

BIRMINGHAM are interested in Bristol City defender Aden Flint.

The 28-year-old is on Harry Redknapp’s list of targets, Press Association Sport understands.

Birmingham are yet to make a bid but Redknapp does want to add another defender, having lost out on John Terry to rivals Aston Villa.

Flint signed a new deal at Ashton Gate until 2020 in December and the Robins want to keep him.

Flint has made 200 appearances for Bristol City, scoring 29 goals, since joining from Swindon in 2013.

He netted five times in 53 games as Lee Johnson’s side finished 17th in the Sky Bet Championship last term.