It’s been a good start to the summer for Middlesbrough, with Tony Pulis making a good impact in the transfer window.

Aden Flint and Paddy McNair have been signed, handing Boro a decent start to a key transfer window.

However, news has broken this week that Pulis has clashed with Britt Assombalonga, claiming that the striker’s future at the Riverside Stadium is now in doubt.

Of course, no player is bigger than the club or the manager, but Boro don’t want to lose Assombalonga this summer.

Last year, he scored 15 goals in the Championship, finishing the season as Boro’s top goalscorer as they finished fifth in the table.

Following Pulis’ appointment Patrick Bamford was preferred on the whole, but together, that duo give Boro good alternative options, who at Championship level, are both talented strikers.

Moving Assombalonga on would take a dimension away from Pulis’ squad, whilst his potential move would likely strengthen a direct rival.

Added to that, at 25, Assombalonga is still improving, with a big couple of years ahead of him. Boro offloading that type of talent couldn’t be seen as a positive unless it brought an eye-watering fee in return.

Pulis and Assombalonga might’ve had their differences already this summer, and whilst Boro won’t want an unhappy player on board, the two parties need to bite their tongue and move on.

Assombalonga could turn out to be key, as Boro go in search of a Premier League return.