MIDDLESBROUGH face a fight to keep Gaston Ramirez at the Riverside Stadium this month.

Premier League champions Leicester City, who have qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, have been made aware of a £15m release clause in the player’s contract.

That has prompted the Foxes to seriously consider a January move for his services, just six months after he signed a three-year deal following last season’s successful loan from Southampton.

Aitor Karanka, the Middlesbrough head coach, revealed on Thursday that Ramirez will not play at Watford this afternoon because of injury.

And if Leicester firm up their interest in the Uruguayan with a bid that matches the clause fee then Ramirez could be on his way out at Middlesbrough.

The 26-year-old has become a key player under Karanka and his absence at Vicarage Road today is a big blow to a team already dealing with the prospect of losing Stewart Downing, who was told he could leave this month.

Karanka is busy trying to add to his squad and is understood to have made an £8m move for Stoke City’s Bojan Krkic, having already paid £6m to Aston Villa for striker Rudy Gestede.

Losing Ramirez had not been in Karanka’s thinking this month, though, and he would prefer to keep him. He could be powerless to prevent such an exit, however, if Leicester offer the £15m and he expresses a wish to leave.

Ramirez has played 17 times this season and scored twice. The initial reports of a clause in his contract have emanated from Italy.