Middlesbrough tonight confirmed that they have opened talks with crisis club Leeds United over a permanent move for Danny Mills.
The 26-year-old England full-back joined Boro on a season's loan during the summer after finding himself at odds with then Elland Road boss Peter Reid, and had previously indicated that he expected to return to the Yorkshire club at the end of the current campaign.
But Steve McClaren has been hugely impressed with his no-nonsense defender during his time at the Riverside Stadium to date and admitted some time ago that he would like to secure Mills' services on a more permanent basis.
Chairman Steve Gibson tonight revealed that talks were already under way, and although he admitted that they might not come to fruition by the time the January transfer window closes on Saturday, he insisted that his club's interest would continue.
"We've had discussions with Danny Mills and his agent this week and those discussions are ongoing," Gibson told the club's official website, www.mfc.premiumtv.co.uk.
"Leeds have got complex difficulties and time is running out. We would hope to sign him permanently before the end of the week, but we might not. But Danny is with us until the end of the season. If not now, then we expect a permanent deal to happen at the end of the season.
"We want him to stay, the fans have taken to him and I think he wants to stay." Mills found himself frozen out at Elland Road by Reid, and made his move to Teesside towards the end of the summer transfer window.
He made his Boro debut against Leeds in a 3-2 Premiership defeat at the Riverside in August and has been in the team virtually ever since. He has missed just three of the 24 games McClaren's side have contested during his time with the club.