Windass scored three goals out of four games during a loan spell this season at Sheffield United before making his return to the BT Cellnet Riverside.
Deano's current deal on Teeside expiries at the end of the current 2002/03 season which means that he would leave on a free transfer.
Their is one problem with the transfer, this is the fact that United don't have money that grows on trees and may have to dig deep in order to keep the striker.
However talks are to re-open soon with Boro boss Steve McClaren as Neil Warnock would rather sign Windass sooner rather than later.