Jonathan Greening has revealed that one of Jonathan Woodgate's main objectives this summer will be to offload Britt Assombalonga.

The striker is thought to be the highest earning player in the Middlesbrough squad, and with the club under pressure to cut their cloth accordingly to comply with Financial Fair Play, they're hoping to significantly trim the wage bill.

Assombalonga has just one year remaining on his contract at the Riverside Stadium, and according to the former midfielder, it seems that the current campaign could be his last on Teesside.

Speaking to Grand National, Greening said: "I’ve been to see Middlesbrough a few times this season, they’re not too far away from York. I know Woody (Jonathan Woodgate) quite well and played against him in the youth team for York.

"I met him when we were schoolboys and obviously played against him when he played for Leeds and Tottenham in the Premier League. It’s hard because he’s got no money to spend, he’s got to get all the high earners out and he’s had put a lot of kids in.

"He’s [Jonathan Woodgate] been told he has to sell Assombalonga in the transfer window as he’s a big earner.

"He’s hasn’t got a massive transfer budget, so he’s got to look for bargains and try and get the right players to help Middlesbrough climb that league and they do survive this year, they have to push for the Premier League next year.

"It’s hard when there’s not a lot of money to spend and you have to sell your best players like Woody’s [Jonathan Woodgate] got to do.”

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The verdict

It certainly makes sense to try and move Britt Assombalonga on this summer.

The striker has been a shadow of his former self so far this term after scoring just six goals in all competitions for Jonathan Woodgate's side.

Assombalonga is on a salary more like that of a Premier League player, and the Teessiders simply can't afford to pay such wages to a player who's not doing it on the pitch.

Whether the club can find a suitable buyer for the 27-year-old though, remains to be seen.