Transfer news: Middlesbrough assess striker options as Neil Warnock reveals Ashley Fletcher contract position and stance on Bristol City's Famara Diedhiou

Boro have offered Fletcher a new deal to stay at the Riverside and Warnock is hopeful the striker will stay beyond the summer.

The 25-year-old joined Boro from West Ham for a fee of £6.5million in the summer of 2017, following the Teessiders’ relegation from the Premier League.

Fletcher has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for most of the campaign but has returned to the side in recent weeks, scoring in wins over Huddersfield and Reading.

“We spoke while he was injured and thought it was a good part of the club to talk about a new contract while he was injured to show him that we wanted him,” said Warnock when asked about Fletcher.

“I think he just got advised that they want to leave it until the end of the season.

“I think in the financial climate that there is today, I don’t think we can do any more. I don’t blame Ashley, he has a right to do that.

“I just said to him look I’ll put you in the shop window, if you get 10-15 goals you might get a better offer somewhere else but we’ll have enjoyed them 10-15 goals.

“I’ll be looking to bring another striker in anyhow.”

One striker who was linked with a move to Boro in January is Bristol City frontman Famara Diedhiou, who will also be out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Boro will face the Robins at the Riverside this week, yet Warnock has suggested the aforementioned forward wasn’t a serious target.

“I think that just came because Britt (Assombalonga) had been mentioned with Bristol,” replied Warnock when asked if Boro were ever close to signing Diedhiou. “I think that was just everyone putting two and two together and coming up with five.

“I think it’s just one of those things, we are looking at strikers everybody knows that.”

Boro moved to within three points of the Championship play-off places after the 2-0 win at Reading.

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