Boro close to Alves deal

Middlesbrough were tonight closing in on the signing of Heerenveen’s Brazilian striker Afonso Alves.

The South American, who was 27 yesterday, has agreed a four-and-a-half year deal with the Barclays Premier League club, worth almost £15m, and is on Teesside putting the finishing touches to the deal.

Alves was in the crowd at the Riverside for Tuesday’s 1-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Wigan having started the process of undergoing his medical.

Earlier today defender Andrew Taylor signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at the Riverside until 2011.

The England Under-21 international is currently out of action recovering from a foot operation.

Midfielder Josh Walker, 18, has also signed an extension to keep him with Boro until 2009. He has joined Scottish side Aberdeen on loan until the end of the season.