MIDDLESBROUGH are keeping an eye on Alex Pritchard’s situation at Tottenham after securing promotion back to the Premier League.

Spurs are ready to offload the talented playmaker this summer and Boro have had him on their transfer shortlist for more than a year.

Middlesbrough last tried to land him in January, only for West Brom to beat them to his signature by offering him a chance in the top-flight.

But Pritchard was unable to force his way into the Baggies’ starting line-up and only made three appearances from the bench largely because of an ankle problem.

Now Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, who has a good relationship with Boro head coach Aitor Karanka, is willing to let the 23-year-old leave on a permanent basis.

That has been noted at the Riverside Stadium, although Boro could be reluctant to match the £8m valuation of a player who is yet to shine on a regular basis at Premier League level.

The former England Under-21 international also has Burnley, who also tried to sign him in January, interested; the question mark will be which clubs are willing to pay the transfer valuation.

Pritchard was outstanding for Brentford during a loan spell in 2013/14, when Boro beat them in the play-off semi-final. He has not made a start for Tottenham at first-team level despite signing a new deal last summer.

Karanka is looking for new blood for his team before the start of pre-season training in July and has already added Danish winger Viktor Fischer from Ajax in a much cheaper £3.8m deal.

Boro have cooled their interest in Gaston Ramirez after becoming frustrated in apparent demands from the player’s representatives. He is understood to have signed a pre-contract deal with Uruguayan club Penarol ahead of becoming a free agent at the end of his contract with Southampton.

Ramirez admitted before the end of the season that he was keen to stay on Teesside permanently and Karanka’s comments suggested something would happen.

However, reaching an agreement with Ramirez’s representatives has not been straight forward and now he looks unlikely to be playing for Middlesbrough next season.

Spanish full-back Damia Abella, meanwhile, has wished Boro well in the Premier League after being told he would not be having his contract extended.

Abella has not played since September 2014 because of a serious knee injury but he has recovered and is now looking for a new club.

Abella said: "I knew it was a big and lovely club. I really felt like I had landed on my feet joining Boro. I got into the team and it was a shame that I wasn’t able to keep going - but it was just how things worked out.

“The atmosphere was perfect in the dressing room in terms of the ambition, belief and trust within each other. We all believed in reaching the goal of promotion, as well as the fact that everyone was so friendly.

"I think Middlesbrough is one of the biggest clubs I’ve been to. Obviously Barcelona is a different thing altogether, but Middlesbrough have been a big team for a lot of years.

“I really felt I was with a good team playing in the Championship and that’s not where the club belonged. I just want to say how grateful I am for how everyone has treated me during my time at Middlesbrough. Thank you to everyone.”