Middlesbrough will explore the possibility of prising Jack Grealish from Aston Villa should Gaston Ramirez leave for Leicester, with Claudio Ranieri preparing an improved bid for the forward.

Leicester have had an offer of around £12million rejected by Boro, who are holding out for closer to £15m, and Ramirez has handed in a transfer request in an effort to force the move.

Aitor Karanka is looking at an ambitious move for PSG forward Jese Rodriguez and has had a £10m bid rejected for Robert Snodgrass as Hull do not wish to sell to a relegation rival.

Aston Villa forward Jack Grealish has emerged as a possible transfer target for Middlesbrough

Boro have turned down a £12million bid for Gaston Ramirez from Leicester this week

But the Boro boss is also weighing up an approach to Villa for Grealish, who offers a more like-for-like replacement to Ramirez and an alternative should the other transfer targets fail.

Lines of communication are open between the Premier League and Championship clubs, with Villa selling Boro Adama Traore, Brad Guzan and Rudy Gestede in the last two windows. Albert Adomah has gone the other way, and Bruce has also tried to sign Jordan Rhodes.

After completing four signings in the past week, Villa would need to sell before buying any more due to Financial Fair Play rules and allowing Grealish to leave should a big offer arrive may not be beyond Bruce, who is revamping his squad.

Bruce sees Grealish, the boyhood Villa fan and academy graduate, as an major talent and would command a significant fee should Boro make an approach.

The 21-year-old, who broke onto the scene with an accomplished display against Liverpool in the 2015 FA Cup semi-final, has scored three goals for Villa this season.