FULHAM are ready to re-invest the cash from selling Aleksandar Mitrovic in landing one of two prolific Championship goalscorers based in the North-East.

West Ham United and Crystal Palace are both keen on buying Mitrovic, who the Cottagers have placed a £30m price-tag on just a season after leaving Newcastle United for £20m.

And if Fulham can offload him then Middlesbrough and Newcastle can expect tentative interest in Britt Assombalonga and Dwight Gayle to be firmed up when Scott Parker searches for a replacement.

Assombalonga and Gayle are both hot topics in the Championship this summer after it became clear that the Tees-Tyne neighbours are still looking to sell.

Both proved themselves in front of goal in the second tier against despite failing to fire the goals that led Boro and the Baggies, where Gayle was on loan, to promotion to the Premier League.

And even though there is sure to be Premier League interest in the pair, the size of the transfer fee will have a huge bearing on where Assombalonga and Gayle end up.

Fulham, despite having to be mindful of Financial Fair Play having invested more than £100m following promotion to the top-flight last season, are likely to be still armed with cash to spend.

As well as Mitrovic they are likely to sell the £40m-rated youngster Ryan Sessegnon to Tottenham and they are due a first parachute payment following relegation.

If all of those fall into place then Parker will be well placed to make additions and it will be a case of whether a deal can be done for Assombalonga or Gayle. It is unlikely they will look to do both.

Middlesbrough are looking to recoup around the record £15m transfer fee they paid to Nottingham Forest a couple of years ago after finishing the last two seasons as the club’s top scorer. He has scored 29 league goals in two campaigns despite being in and out of the side.

Gayle also ended up as West Brom’s top leading scorer with his 23 goals and he was an instrumental factor in helping Newcastle to win the Championship in 2017. He would prefer a Premier League move after missing out this time, although Fulham are showing the most interest at this stage.

Middlesbrough and Newcastle have made up their mind they are prepared to let the forwards go, particularly the Teessiders who are looking to trim their wage bill further.

There is plenty of uncertainty around the Riverside because chairman Steve Gibson is assessing the credentials of the contenders for the manager’s job after Tony Pulis’ departure.

Slavisa Jokanovic has had an interview, although that does not guarantee him the position because Gibson is considering options.

Hibernian’s former Darlington and Sunderland defender Paul Heckingbottom is one of the latest names to have entered the frame, while Aston Villa coach John Terry, Barnsley’s Daniel Stendel, Lincoln City’s Danny Cowley and Ajax’s Michael Reiziger are among the other contenders.

But Boro coach Jonathan Woodgate remains under strong consideration because of his standing within the club, where he has forged a link between the academy players and the first team.

Gibson does have a track record of giving young coaches a chance, and they have often been his most successful appointments. Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren and Aitor Karanka all enjoyed strong periods after taking the first step into senior management with Middlesbrough.

Woodgate is also likely to be a cheaper option at a time when Middlesbrough watching what they are spending even more closely after an end to the parachute payments.

It emerged today that a backroom cull following the departure of Pulis now includes Under-23s coach Paul Stephenson.

The former Hartlepool midfielder was only brought in two years ago and his exit has surprised academy players.

Woodgate could end up coaching the 23s if he doesn’t get the manager’s job, although Middlesbrough are yet to release a statement on that front.