Riley McGree issues "elsewhere" claim amid Middlesbrough contract uncertainty | OneFootball

Middlesbrough playmaker Riley McGree has spoken of his 'love' for the club's supporters; but remained non-committal over his future at the club as he enters the final year of his contract.

The Australia international's current deal runs out at the end of the season and while Middlesbrough are keen to keep the midfielder at the Riverside Stadium, they are also committed to their current wage structure.

Riley McGree issues update on Middlesbrough future amid contract uncertainty

McGree's camp have held discussions with the club, but an agreement is yet to be reached. The 25-year-old, however, insisted he is not fazed by the uncertainty over his future.

"Every season is important," he told 7News Adelaide.

"I'm going out there as I would any season, [whether that] be with Middlesbrough again or elsewhere.

"I have to say I love the club and the people there."

McGree is currently in Australia and will return to the UK later this month to join his teammates as Middlesbrough players are due to report for pre-season at the end of the month.

Riley McGree's Middlesbrough stats

McGree, who has 25 Socceroos caps to his name, signed for Middlesbrough from MLS side Charlotte FC on

on a three-and-a-half year contract in January 2022 after he ended his loan spell at Birmingham.

Boro faced competition for McGree's signature prior, with the midfielder turning down a move to Scottish giants Celtic, and his performances during his time at the Riverside Stadium will not have gone unnoticed by other clubs.

McGree made 11 Championship appearances in his first half-season on Teesside and then established himself as a regular in Michael Carrick's team the following term, when he started 35 of his 43 league appearances as Boro reached the play-offs but lost to Coventry City in the semi-finals.

A series of injury setbacks, however, limited him to just 14 starts in the Championship last season and his final outing of the campaign came on March 16, in a goalless draw against Blackburn.

McGree picked up a foot injury while on international duty five days later during Australia's 2-0 win over Lebanon in their World Cup qualifier and underwent surgery in April, missing the remainder of the season as Boro fell just short of the play-offs in eighth place, four adrift of sixth-placed Norwich.

The injury meant McGree, who scored six goals and set up four more in 25 appearances in all competitions last term, was forced to miss Australia's World Cup Qualifiers against Bangladesh on Thursday - which the Socceroos won 2-0 - and against Palestine next week.

Finn Azaz deputised on the left for McGree last season and, according to The Northern Echo, Boro are in the market for a versatile forward and striker this summer, which may mean they're planning for a life without the Aussie if the right offer comes in.

Middlesbrough cannot afford to lose Riley McGree for free next summer

As we saw last summer, Middlesbrough get by on player trading, which saw both Djed Spence and Chuba Akpom cashed in on for big fees to Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax respectively.

That allowed Michael Carrick to strengthen a number of positions, with Emmanuel Latte Lath, Seny Dieng, Lukas Engel and Morgan Rogers being part of a number of players who arrived at the Riverside Stadium for fees.

The sale of Rogers to Aston Villa in January will allow more wiggle-room this summer when it comes to potential sales, but if it weren't for cashing in on players, Boro - like most Championship clubs - would make significant losses financially.

And that is why they cannot afford to potentially lose McGree on a free next summer - the attacking midfielder is an asset when fully-fit and if he will not sign a new contract in the next couple of months, then the Boro hierarchy must consider trying to get a fee for his services closer to the end of the transfer window.