Get the latest Boro stories straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter Enter your email Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Aitor Karanka is hopeful of a reunion with Middlesbrough defender Fabio after identifying the Brazilian as the man he wants to fill the left-back void at the City Ground.

With Eric Lichaj having joined Hull City, Forest are in the market for a left-back this summer and having missed out on Alan Hutton, who signed a new deal with Aston Villa recently, Karanka has turned his attention to Fabio.

Forest are confident of landing their man. The Nottingham Post today say Forest chiefs have been working on a deal to sign the full-back, who Karanka brought to the Riverside from Cardiff City two years ago.

Boro triggered a one-year extension to Fabio's contract at the club at the back end of last season but the former Manchester United man did spend the second half of the campaign on the fringes after the appointment of Tony Pulis as boss.

(Image: CameraSport)

Fabio established himself as Garry Monk's first choice left-back, dislodging George Friend from the team, but the all-action Brazilian lost his place as Pulis quickly decided on his first choice defence.

Fabio asked for a transfer in January and looked to have played his last game for the club. However, a move didn't materialise and the energetic full-back battled his way back into the manager's plans at the back end of the season, be it as a subsitute. His last start for Boro came on Boxing Day in the win over Bolton.

While Forest are said to be confident of landing their man, Fabio has today reported back to Rockliffe with his Boro teammates as Tony Pulis's squad start the build-up to the new season.

Boro travel to Austria for their pre-season training camp on Wednesday.