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

Brazilian full-back Fabio da Silva is set to seal a £2m move to Boro today.

The versatile Cardiff man is scheduled to take a medical on Teesside before completing the formalities on a three year switch to the Riverside.

Da Silva, 26, was withdrawn from the Bluebirds squad for the League Cup clash at Bristol Rovers and instead travelled to the North-east.

The former Manchester United spent last night at Rockliffe Hall after being shown around Boro’s training complex.

Twice capped Brazil international Da Silva and his representatives met with Boro chiefs to fine-tune personal terms and the small print on the deal.

The move has been in the offing since Boro made an offer that triggered a release clause in his Cardiff contract last week.

The player was left out of Cardiff’s Championship opening day goalless draw at Birmingham after the clubs agreed the switch in principle earlier this week leaving just the personal package to finalise.

Da Silva is eager to make the move to prove himself back in the Premier League.

And Aitor Karanka is keen to add an high energy player to the squad who gives him tactical options.

The boss wouldn't be drawn on the progress of the deal at his press conference yesterday but said: "The club are working well behind the scenes.

Da Silva will bring competition to full-back fixture George Friend but can also play on the right and in a more advanced position.

At Cardiff he has played as a left-wing back in a 352 line-up and offers an attacking outlet but has the engines to track back and close down and harry opponents too.

Fabio and twin brother Rafael started their careers in Brazil with Fluminense before joining Manchester United in February 2007 but he couldn’t play until he turned 18 the following year.

In his five seasons at Old Trafford he struggled to get past the likes of Gary Neville and Patrice Evra and played just 56 games and scored three goals.

He then spent a season on loan at then Premier League side QPR before signing for top flight Cardiff in January 2014.

He has been virtually an ever present for the Welsh outfit since then, playing 68 games and scoring once - a sizzling 25 yard first half rocket at the Riverside last term in a match Boro hit back to win 3-1.