Neil Warnock quizzed on Jack Clarke and Famara Diedhiou as Middlesbrough boss reveals transfer hopes

It has been claimed that Boro, Stoke and Swansea are among the Championship clubs who are tracking the 20-year-old, while Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry have also been credited with interest.

Clarke, who joined Spurs from Leeds in the summer of 2019, has made just two appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side in the Europa League this season and is unlikely to break into the first-team before the end of the campaign.

Warnock is keen to sign another wideman on loan this month but wants to make sure Boro sign the right player.

When asked about Clarke on Friday, the Boro boss said: “I don’t want to be disrespectful to Jack, and I’m sure he’s a good player, but I’ve not seen anything of him. There are others I’m looking at.

"The type I’m looking at are players who are probably going to come straight into the team and make a difference.”

The form of Marcus Tavernier and Marvin Johnson on the flanks means it will be difficult for a new signing to break into Boro’s starting XI.

Yet Warnock still feels the Teessiders need a different type of player, especially ahead of a congested second half of the season.

“I think we need a different type of player,” Warnock added. “I wouldn’t say Marcus is a winger, even Marv I wouldn’t say he’s an out and out winger.

“We just need someone a little bit different who can take full-backs on and can do something different and that’s what I’m looking for to supplement them.

“We have so many games coming up, those two can’t put a shift in that they do every game because they put so much into their game Marvin and Marcus. I have to be careful.

“That’s why I’m looking for the right one, I see names being mentioned but if the right one becomes available I’ll try and get him.”

With Jonny Howson, Ashley Fletcher and Grant Hall expected to return from injury in the next few weeks, Boro aren’t desperately looking to make signings this month.

“There’s nothing much happening at the moment,” admitted Warnock when asked about transfers. “I spoke to a couple of people yesterday, agents etc.

“If I’m honest, what will be will be. I can’t see a lot of wheeling and dealing right now.

“If I could just get the one in, I’d be more than happy to go with what I’ve got.”

Another player who has been linked with Boro is Bristol City striker Famara Diedhiou, who will see his Robins contract expire at the end of the season.

When quizzed on the 28-year-old frontman, Warnock replied: “I’ve not been very lucky with signings from Bristol City so I might probably say no, I might give that a miss.”

Transfer business has also been challenging as Premier League clubs are assessing their options before sending players out on loan.

“One particular manager said I want to wait if I sell this player before I think about another player going and you can understand that,” added Warnock.

“If I was a Premier League manager I wouldn’t want to rush getting everybody out because you just don’t know the injuries you are going to get.”

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