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Newcastle United have made enquiries about Middlesbrough FC defender Daniel Ayala, according to reports.

The Mail claims that Boro have been approached by their North-east rivals for the classy 25-year-old defender, who was named in the Football League Team of the Season and crowned PFA Fans' Championship Player of the Season this year.

The Spanish defender has been in sensational form under Aitor Karanka, and played a vital role in Boro's historic promotion back to the Premier League this season.

It is claimed that Boro value the centre-back - who has a contract at the Riverside until June 2017 - at £15m, and it is believed that such a figure has dissuaded the Magpies from furthering their interest.

Rafa Benitez knows all about Ayala's qualities, having taken him to Liverpool from Sevilla in 2007, and reports today claim that the former Real Madrid boss is interested in luring Boro's defensive stalwart to Tyneside.

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However, Boro are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of their top-flight return - and Ayala is likely to be seen as a crucial cog in Karanka's team next season.

Boro have already moved quickly in the market to agree the signing of Ajax winger Viktor Fischer , with the transfer set to be officially confirmed when the international transfer window re-opens on Thursday.

Earlier this summer, chairman Steve Gibson revealed he is determined that Boro establish themselves in the Premier League after a seven-year absence.

“We’ve got to be able to go into this league and make sure that we’re safe within it, which isn’t an easy task, but we also want to be as competitive as we can," he said.

“It may take us some time to grow the club into being competitive in the Premier League, but we’re there now, we’ve got to stay there and we’ve got to grow in it.

“We’ve got to have a go. We’re a sporting entity and if you’re not going to be having a go you shouldn’t be doing it.

“It’s difficult just to make up the numbers in the Premier League, but if you start thinking like that then you’re going to struggle.

"We were in it 11 or 12 years last time around and we were pretty competitive in that time. We’ve got to make sure we can build into being like that again."