Neil Warnock's message to Britt Assombalonga as Middlesbrough boss opens up on club's contract position

The Boro striker is the highest paid player at the club after signing for the Teessiders from Nottingham Forest in 2017.

When discussing Assombalonga, who scored in a 2-1 win over Forest this week, Warnock said: “When Britt’s head is right he’s as good as anything in the league and when it’s not right he’s a very mediocre player.

“We have a few of them at the club and hopefully they all finish the season playing to their strengths and enjoying it.”

When asked if he’d like the forward to stay next season, the Warnock replied: “I think at the end of the season you’ve got to talk to him because it’s known that Britt is our highest paid player at the club.

“That’s no fault of Britt, he did well, I wish I was his agent. He’s done well out of Middlesbrough and if we got another few months out of him who knows. If we can get Britt firing for the next few months who knows where we could be.

“You are not going to get much better than Britt.

“It’s no good talking about a new contract with him, I think at the end of the day in the Championship with the money side, a lot of players will find it’s not the same place as it has been.

“We will talk to those players out of contract and give them our realistic offers and if it’s not good enough you lose them don’t you.”

Boro striker Ashley Fletcher will also be out of contract at the end of the season and Warnock says players and agents will have to be realistic about new deals.

When asked about Assombalonga having to take a pay cut, Warnock said: “I can guarantee you 100 per cent he would have to take a pay cut if he stays.

“I think everyone has to be realistic now, Ashley Fletcher is the same.

"I think their agents think if they do this, that and the other they will get offers but I don’t think it’s going to happen like that in the summer.”

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