Updated: Middlesbrough FC - January Transfer Window needs and priorities

Middlesbrough - January Transfer Window needs and priorities.

Boro have signed off one piece of key business - and perhaps their most significant this month - with the news that in-demand winger Duncan Watmore has committed his future to the club for the next two-and-a-half years.

The former Sunderland player's short-term contract was due to end after the Birmingham game on January 16, with Burnley, West Brom, Bristol City, Swansea City, Stoke City and Watford all linked with moves for the 26-year-old.

But Watmore has now agreed fresh terms, with boss Neil Warnock adamant that the development 'was never in doubt.'

Warnock is aiming to follow up the news by bringing in another offensive option or two to help add further options to strengthen the club’s Championship play-off push, potentially alongside some defensive cover

Everton’s Yannick Bolaise, whose hopes of moving to Teesside were dashed late on in the summer window, is again a target for Boro. The question is can they get it over the line?

Speaking recently, Warnock said that there was the potential for supporters to have to wait until late on for significant transfer breakthroughs with it being a waiting game.

Warnock, who has been here many times before and has pulled more than the odd ‘rabbit out of the hat’ in years gone by certainly won’t be panicking.

He quipped: “I’d imagine it will be around three o’clock on the 31st. “That doesn’t make things any easier, does it, but it’s what will be, will be, I’m afraid.

“It’s like everything else in the world today, everyone wants to get a better deal.

"From all parties – players, clubs. Neil (Bausor) is trying to do the best for our club, you’ve got chief executives at other clubs trying to do the best for them, and then you’ve got agents trying to do the best for themselves too.

"The players usually end up at the bottom of the list.

"Things will change all the time, but if the right one comes along, you have to try to snap it.

"Although with a young player for the Premier League, you've probably got five or six clubs from the Championship chasing the same player.”

Early business has seen number two goalkeeper Dejan Stojanovic head to German outfit St Pauli on loan as he seeks to keep his dream of featuring for Austria in this summer’s European Championships alive.

Boro have brought in ex-Millwall keeper and former target Jordan Archer in as cover.

Former Blackpool forward Armand Gnanduillet, a free agent following a spell in Turkish football, has been linked.

Ins: Jordan Archer (short term, Motherwell), Duncan Watmore (contract extension).

Outs: Dejan Stojanovic (St Pauli, half-season loan).