Norwich City's on-loan defender Dani Ayala is wanted by Championship club Middlesbrough for an extended stay on Teeside.
Talks have opened between the two clubs with a view to extending Ayala's three month loan stay which is set to end on January 24, but Boro boss Aitor Karanka wants to keep Ayala at the Riverside.
The Canaries will be without Michael Turner for the forseesable future after Chris Hughton confirmed following the weekend's FA Cup 1-1 draw against Fulham he had suffered a hamstring strain. Fellow central defender Sebastien Bassong was also absent with a minor knock but is expected to be in contention for the Premier League trip to Everton, with Hughton forced to pair Russell Martin alongside Ryan Bennett against the Cottagers.
Ayala was omitted from Boro's FA Cup third round defeat to Hull City on Saturday but the Spanish defender featured regularly over the festive period.
'We are working to keep Dani here because he has made great strides,' said Karanka. 'But he needs to keep working. If he thinks he's a better player than he is then he will make the mistakes he has made in the past.'
The 23-year-old has yet to make a first team appearance at Norwich under Hughton since moving to the club from Liverpool in August 2011. Ayala spent the majority of last season on loan at Nottingham Forest and has so far made 11 appearances for the Teesiders.
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