Benito Carbone agreed personal terms with Middlesbrough early today and was set to link up again with Dean Windass.

The Italian and his agent Giovanni Branchini struggled through the snow to reach the north-east for talks with Boro chairman Steve Gibson and coach Terry Venables.

Branchini was sounded out yesterday by Boro but it is understood Carbone had already been impressed by a look round the club's training facilities at Hurworth earlier this week.

Bradford City will save £350,000 in wages by selling the Italian before tonight's transfer deadline rather than at the end of the season.

Carbone had been determined to return to Italy because his family were homesick and was prepared to wait until the summer to move.

But a change of heart after his recent recall to the Premiership alerted Boro.

City will let Carbone go on a free just to get their highest earner of the wage bill.

Boss Jim Jefferies said: "Financially this club cannot sustain his sort of wages and that's why we had to make him available in the first place.

"He wanted to go back to Italy but things change and he is enjoying being involved again. He played very well against Man City last week and I thought that was his best game since I came here."

CIty chairman Geoffrey Richmond said: "Regard-less of whether the transfer goes through, he has been a perfect pro both on and off the pitch."

Carbone would be the eighth player to leave since the manager took the helm - including Windass who joined Boro a fortnight ago -while three others are currently out on loan with a view to a permanent move.

But City are still hoping to sign Eoin Jess from Aberdeen - at least until the end of the season. Jess was back training at Pittodrie yesterday and the Dons are demanding a short-term fee, believed to be around £70,000, which City are reluctant to pay.

Out-of-favour City striker Dean Saunders has turned down a second chance to go on loan to Dundee United.