Premiership: Middlesbrough given permission for Izzet talks

Middlesbrough have received permission from Leicester to approach Muzzy Izzet about a £6m move to the Riverside.

Leicester confirmed they have "reached broad agreement" with Boro over a bid for Izzet.

Boro have now submitted a written bid on request, following an earlier verbal enquiry.

Izzet is now free to meet Steve McClaren later this week once the pair have returned from international duty with Turkey and England respectively.

City chairman John Elsom said: "We have given permission for Middlesbrough to open discussions with Muzzy.

"The club received a written bid from Middlesbrough which we are in broad agreement with, although there are a couple of small matters still to be finalised."

Izzet, who went on the transfer list at his own request three months ago, is the Foxes' longest-serving player after moving from Chelsea for £650,000 in 1996.

The player's agent Jonathan Barnett earlier claimed Leicester had already accepted a bid from Middlesbrough for the transfer-listed midfielder.

Barnett said: "The bid from Middlesbrough has been accepted, but Muzzy is out of the country at the moment.

"He will return later in the week, when we will hold talks with Middlesbrough."

Boro are clearly keen to bolster their squad as a relegation battle looms, particularly having recently seen the capture of Diego Forlan slip through their fingers after the Uruguayan decided on a last-minute move to Manchester United.

The £6m fee would be the second highest received by Leicester after the £11.5m which Liverpool paid for Emile Heskey, while the Foxes must pay 25 per cent of any transfer profit to Chelsea - approximately £1.4m.