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Boro have signed Southampton’s Gaston Ramirez after the Uruguay playmaker agreed to take a whack in his wallet.

A three-way compromise agreement paved the way for him to step down to the Championship to kick-start his career.

The tricky Uruguayan will take a huge cut in wages to join Boro on loan until the end of the season.

The player has signed the paperwork but will not arrive at Rockliffe until later this week.

His wife has just gone into labour and the player has been given permission to delay his arrival by 48 hours but with no game this weekend that is not a pressing issue.

The out-of-favour schemer had been offered to a string of clubs in recent weeks but Boro swiftly declined after initially being told the Saints wanted his £60,000 a week Premier League package paid in full.

Boro chiefs last week distanced themselves from interest in a full time move for the Uruguay World Cup star.

They said even a loan deal would have been impossible if they had to pick up the prohibitive wage burden.

Read more Rumours from Boro's January 2016 window

Southampton’s position also proved a stumbling block for Premier League Swansea and Ramirez’s former Serie A club Bologna who could not do a deal after talks last week.

But the Hurworth hierarchy were contacted again on Monday by Ramirez’s representatives with an offer that would slash their own investment and mean the player himself would pay a slice of the wages.

It is understood that after two days of talks Boro, Southampton and the player have now thrashed out a deal to make the move affordable.

It would mean Boro would pay just £20,000 a week of the salary until the end of the season with the Saints and the player matching that.

Ramirez is desperate to kick-start his career in England following a frustrating three season spell at Southampton after a £12m move from Bologna.

He has started just 28 games for the Saints over three seasons, come off the bench 27 times and scored eight goals.

He had a loan spell at top flight strugglers Hull last season and made 11 starts, 11 substitute appearances and scored just a single goal.

He has been a fringe figure at St Mary’s this term starting just one Capital Cup game and Saints are eager to get him off their wage bill.

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Ramirez, 25, is an international team-mate of Boro striker Cristhian Stuani.

He has played 34 times for Uruguay in the Olympics, the Confederations Cup and the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Ramirez plays primarily in a attacking central midfield role - ‘the number 10’ - but can also operate down either flank.

That ticks the boxes for Aitor Karanka who wants to strengthen his creative options before the transfer window closes.