Middlesbrough midfielder Martin Payero has insisted that he is focused on pre-season at Boro amid recent transfer speculation linking him with a move away from the club.

Payero's former club Banfield have been associated with a move for the 23-year-old in recent months, with their former boss even openly discussing the possibility of a transfer.

More recently, he has been linked with a move to Boca Juniors and River Plate.

Now, comments from Payero himself suggest that a move back to his homeland is not necessarily on the cards, and insisted he is a Middlesbrough player.

"No, the truth is that they haven’t talked to me, no, they haven’t communicated," Payero told IP Sports, via TeessideLive, when asked if a return to Argentina was close.

"But the interest is clearly latent. I am aware of that, but for that I also speak with my representative. I say that if you transmit to me, it is calm and it is at Boro.

"I have no control over what happens so today I can only think of one other thing, which is pre-season and being well here because it is where I am today and Boro is my club.

"Then if the offers come and it will be something really formal, and I have it on the table, I’ll sit down and think about it and decide."

Payero joined Middlesbrough from Banfield last summer but struggled during his first season at the Riverside.

Throughout the campaign, the attacking midfielder made just 14 first team appearances, with just 12 of those coming in the Championship.

The Verdict

It sounds as though Martin Payero could be sticking around at Boro for the upcoming season.

At this point it is not unclear whether or not that is the best thing for the club, but perhaps the Argentine does deserve another opportunity to prove himself useful.

Largely due to injury, he never got to prove himself under Chris Wilder.

That being said, though, should any significant transfer bid arrive for the 23-year-old, you'd have to think Boro will take it.