Dortmund rival Boro for Flavio

Middlesbrough have agreed a deal with the Spanish champions to take the 28-year-old on loan for the coming season.

Flavio's agent, Litos Miguez, is due in England on Monday to hold talks with Boro officials regarding his client's proposed switch to The Premiership.

The Teesside outfit are in pole position to snap up the Brazilian ace and his capture would end Boro boss Steve McClaren's prolonged search for midfield reinforcements.

But German giants Borussia Dortmund are aiming to hijack Boro's swoop for the grafting midfielder and lure Flavio to Die Bundesliga.

Dortmund are preparing a similar offer to Boro in order to take Flavio on loan for 12 months with the option of a permanent deal.

The club's coach Matthias Sammer is keen to bring in a defensive midfielder and has been linked with a move for Steffen Freund following his release from Tottenham.

Flavio has also emerged as an option and Dortmund will hope the prospect of Champions League football could entice the South American to Germany.

However, Dortmund may have left their interest too late as Boro will seek to thrash out personal terms on Monday and quickly tie up their raid.