Middlesbrough striker Massimo Maccarone looks set to leave the club and join Italian side Siena next week on a free transfer.
The 27-year-old is keen for a move back to his native Italy after failing to impress new Boro boss Gareth Southgate.
His agent Paolo Fabbri said: “We have undergone negotiations with Boro for the player’s free transfer to Siena.
“There is an agreement with Siena and Maccarone could sign a three or four-year contract with them.”
If Maccarone leaves on a free transfer, Middlesbrough will make a huge loss on him, having paid a club record fee of £8.15m to Empoli in 2002.