Report: Birmingham City defender Ryan Shotton on Middlesbrough radar

Birmingham City defender Ryan Shotton has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for Championship rivals Middlesbrough.

The 28-year-old moved to St Andrew's last summer from Derby County and made 43 appearances for the Blues, who narrowly avoided the drop.

Shotton has reportedly already been the subject of a bid from Hull City who, like Boro, suffered Premier League relegation this year.

According to the Birmingham Mail, Boro are bracing themselves to lose highly-rated centre-back Ben Gibson, and so have earmarked Shotton as an apt replacement.

Birmingham have sought to strengthen their backline this summer, with Marc Roberts signing from Barnsley, Aston Villa defender Tommy Elphick rumoured to be close to a move, and Paul Robinson being handed a new one-year deal.