Head of recruitment Victor Orta looks set to leave Middlesbrough as the club looks to rebuild for life in the Sky Bet Championship.
Press Association Sport understands the Spaniard, who arrived in December 2015 to lead the European scouting network which then head coach Aitor Karanka hoped would help him to build for a bright new future, is in talks over a severance deal.
His departure would all but signal the end of the Karanka regime on Teesside with his interim replacement Steve Agnew having drafted in coaches Joe Jordan, Paul Jenkins and Jonathan Woodgate in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to stave off relegation.
It is understood Boro have been less than impressed with the return on an investment they hoped would give them an edge over their competitors during the last two transfer windows.
Chairman Steve Gibson is currently facing a major decision on Karanka's long-term replacement - he was coy when asked about his plans during a rare interview at the weekend - but determined to right the wrongs of a difficult campaign.
However, he has vowed to "smash" the Championship as Boro look for an instant return to the top flight and has vowed to add to what he believes is a strong core of players.
The Teessiders, who won promotion after seven years in the second tier as runners-up to Burnley last season, currently sit in 19th place in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's trip to Liverpool having seen relegation confirmed by a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea on May 8.
Source: PA
