AITOR KARANKA has categorically ruled out selling Gaston Ramirez – but admitted he will be “frustrated” if Middlesbrough were to fail to add to their squad ahead of tomorrow night’s transfer deadline.

Ramirez has submitted a formal transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to Leicester City, but Boro turned down the Foxes’ initial £10m offer for the Uruguayan.

The Northern Echo:

Leicester remain interested in resurrecting a deal ahead of tomorrow’s 11pm transfer deadline, but with Boro having failed to recruit Robert Snodgrass, Bojan Krkic or Jese Rodriguez, Karanka is adamant Ramirez will not now be leaving the Riverside.

“There has not been another bid,” said the Boro head coach. “I don’t care. He will be here at the end of January, 100 per cent.”

Ramirez has returned to training, but Karanka was told by his medical staff this morning that the attacking midfielder would not be available for tomorrow’s Premier League game with West Brom.

“Gaston has been training with the team for the last two days, but the physio came to my office and said he couldn’t play tomorrow,” said Karanka. “That was a surprise.”

Karanka has suffered a frustrating couple of days in the transfer market, with bids for a number of players failing to come to fruition.

Bojan has completed a loan move to German side Mainz, while Snodgrass completed a £10.2m move to West Ham even though Boro had also lodged a bid for his services.

Paris St Germain midfielder Jese is set to snub Boro in order to join Spanish side Las Palmas for the rest of the season, and with the transfer window due to close at 11pm tomorrow, there is a growing likelihood of Boro being unable to make further additions.

That would clearly annoy Karanka, who made the Boro hierarchy aware of his preferred targets almost two months ago.

When asked whether he would frustrated if no one came in, Karanka said: “Yes. I always said the aim in the transfer window was to improve the squad, and at the moment, we haven’t done that.

“If no one else comes in, I will have to try my best. We have two days. We will be disappointed tomorrow (if no one signs). Today, I am concentrating on the game (against West Brom).

“We had the first meeting a month and a half ago and they knew the targets at that moment. Now, with two days to the finish (of the window), we have massive game tomorrow.”

George Friend has been ruled out of tomorrow’s game after damaging his calf in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley, while Calum Chambers continues to be sidelined with a fractured foot.

Daniel Ayala is available, however, after completing a suspension, and Antonio Barragan is set to return to the squad after taking part in full training for the last couple of days.