AITOR KARANKA has not completely given up hope of having Gaston Ramirez back at Middlesbrough in the Premier League next season.

Boro have found it harder than expected to strike a deal for the attacking midfielder because he had penned a pre-contract with Uruguayan club Penarol ahead of becoming a free agent.

Middlesbrough’s main financial decision makers became frustrated with the conduct of Ramirez’s representatives and significantly cooled interest in him last month.

But Turkish club Galatasaray’s admiration for him has highlighted once more than Ramirez is still available this summer, even if it means Penarol may have to benefit and complicates any deal.

Karanka would still like to have Ramirez back at the Riverside and the player himself is known to be attracted by the idea of a return to Teesside in the Premier League.

Middlesbrough, however, will refuse to get involved in any bidding war with the player or his representatives even if the head coach would like him to form part of the squad next season.

Ramirez has been unable to shine consistently in the top tier of the English game following his £12m move from Bologna four years ago, including a loan spell building up to Hull City’s relegation in 2015.

He knows that his performances for Middlesbrough in the final few months of the campaign, helping the club seal promotion, earned him a call-up to the Uruguay squad for the first time in a decent amount of time.

He was part of the Uruguay squad which was dumped out of the Copa America at the group stage and now, with the rest of his summer free, he is looking for progress on where he will be playing next season.

Staying in South America with Penarol is clearly an option, but he has been told of strong interest from across Europe, with Galatasaray looking to make improvements after finishing sixth in the Turkish league.

Middlesbrough, who will learn their fixtures in the Premier League on Wednesday morning, are looking to boost their own squad and Ramirez is merely one of a number of targets.

They have already signed Danish winger Viktor Fischer from Ajax and are closing in on Sporting Gijon centre-back Bernardo Espinosa, who has reiterated a decision to head for the Premier League rather than stay in Spain.

Karanka is also being kept informed of a number of other fronts, with West Brom’s James Morrison still thought to be keen on a return to Teesside ahead of becoming a free agent at the Hawthorns.

French defender Clement Chantome, also interesting Sunderland, is out of contract and will be a free agent after allowing his contract with Bordeaux to run down. Middlesbrough are aware of him and have been heavily linked.