Middlesbrough will be bracing themselves for a summer of transfer speculation surrounding the long-term future of defender Dael Fry who looks likely to be the subject of a renewed transfer attempt Burnley.

Fry has been absent from Middlesbrough’s side for the last few games with the defender having not featured for Boro since their 1-0 defeat at Millwall at the end of last month. Neil Warnock confirmed at the start of the month that he has suffered an injury to his calf and that he would likely be out for around two or three weeks. That suggests he should be back to fitness by the end of the month.

Back in January, Warnock warned Middlesbrough that they will need to be prepared to stand firm in the face of inevitable interest in Fry from Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window. That is something that Boro have already shown they are prepared to do having knocked back an offer from Burnley of around £8 million for him in the summer of 2019. The club had placed a £25 million valuation on him that window.

A recent report from the Daily Mail has suggested that the Clarets are poised to come back in for the defender this summer. They are thought to be prepared to come back in for him with an offer worth around £10 million. Warnock has since pushed back on any suggestion that Middlesbrough would be willing to cash in on him for that kind of fee, emphatically suggesting that would not even afford his boot laces.

The Daily Mail’s report though did suggest that Fry would be potentially open to moving to Turf Moor in the summer with him being keen to test himself at Premier League level. Therefore, despite Warnock being insistent that he will be remaining at the Riverside, it is going to be a transfer story that rumbles on potentially through the window.

Having been out of action for the last few weeks, Fry would have had the chance to take stock on his potential long-term future. The defender will be aware that he would need to make it clear to the club he wants to leave this summer for any chance of a deal to be sorted out. So, in many respects, his current situation is within his own hands. Boro will not sell unless they absolutely have to.

Fry’s current situation then is one of uncertainty and it could be a while yet before any suggestions of him leaving are either quashed or there is concrete interest expressed by Burnley in the form of an offer. Until then Middlesbrough will be focusing on doing all they can to keep him at the Riverside.