Middlesbrough have set an asking price for Dael Fry amid interest from Burnley, report LanchashireLive.

According to the outlet Boro will seek £15m for his services, the same price they sold fellow defender Ben Gibson to The Clarets last summer.

The club seems determined to hold onto another very good defensive prospect, and given he has four years remaining on his contract they are in no rush to sell.

Burnley's reported £8m bid therefore fell way short of Boro's estimation of the player, and with not long left in the transfer window it looks unlikely that there will be any movement unless developments take place elsewhere - regarding Leicester's interest in Burnley's James Tarkowski.

The 21-year-old Fry enjoyed a breakthrough season under Tony Pulis last term and in his 34 league appearances Boro conceded just 30 goals.

He has established himself under Woodgate too and could have a very bright future ahead of him, but for now he may decide to stay in order to help his boyhood club into the Premier League.

The Verdict

This is a clever move by the club as they know it will deter interest in Fry, and even if a club does meet his asking price then they are getting a good fee for a player who has never played above the second-tier.

It is not an unreasonable asking price either so it should not upset the player if he is indeed looking to move. Fry has already proven himself a top-quality Championship player and at 21 his value is only going to increase, so Boro are entitled to demand such a fee.

The £15m asking price should discourage any interest and allow Fry and Woodgate to concentrate on the football side of things.