Reported Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday target staying put, Daniel Ayala opens up on exit plus Ravel Morrison admission: Middlesbrough FC news and transfer rumours

We know Boro boss Neil Warnock wants to bring in another striker, despite the arrival of former Arsenal frontman Chuba Akpom last week.

The Teessiders also look short of options at centre-back, while many feel they need more creativity in midfield.

Here are some of the latest transfer stories concerning Boro, some of their Championship rivals and players who have recently left the club.

Newcastle winger staying put

One player who was linked with Boro earlier in the window is Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy.

The 25-year-old impressed while on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season and the Owls were keen to re-sign him.

Yet Murphy has performed well over pre-season and was one of the standout players in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup win over Morecambe

“I won’t be letting him out on loan, not after a performance like that. He deserves to stay with us,” said Newcastle boss Steve Bruce after the match.

"He’s improved enormously. I’ve been very, very pleased, even though he hasn’t made the squad for the weekend. We’ve got 20-odd players to choose from. But, at this particular moment, I won’t be letting Jacob go out.”

Ayala opens up on Boro exit

After spending seven years at Boro, Daniel Ayala’s time on Teesside came to an abrupt end in June.

The 29-year-old turned down a new contract at the Riverside before the 2019/20 season was suspended in March, and was still struggling with an ankle injury when football returned.

Ayala told Lancashire Live: "It was quite tough, I wanted to play until my contract ran out, that's the way I am. I signed a contract and I wanted to honour the contract and play until June 30.

"I came back from lockdown and my ankle still didn't feel right. That's why I decided, I tried to still play but I think Middlesbrough had other ideas and they didn't want me to be there anymore."

Ayala, who won promotion to the Premier League with Boro in 2016, says he’s happy the club stayed up last season.

"I was very happy,” the defender added “I was there for seven years and I still feel as a Middlesbrough supporter so I wanted them to do well.

"It's been a crazy year, especially after leaving Middlesbrough after seven years.

"It's never easy but I thought it was a decision I had to make. I wanted a new challenge and that's why I came to Blackburn."

Morrison nearly went elsewhere

Things didn’t work out for Ravel Morrison after signing for Middlesbrough on loan in January.

The Manchester United academy product made just three appearances for the Teessiders and was allowed to leave the club early by manager Neil Warnock.

Morrison, 27, has joined Dutch side ADO Den Haag until the end of the season, claiming technical director Martin Jol and former Lazio team-mate Ricardo Kishna played a big part in the move.

"It was due to Martin Jol and Kishna giving me a lot of confidence to come here,” Morrison told the club’s website.

“I was close to joining last January but obviously it fell through and I went to Middlesbrough.”

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