A COUPLE of Championship clubs are keeping an eye on Dimi Konstantopoulos’ situation at Middlesbrough, with his future in limbo while the managerial search continues.

Konstantopoulos is set to become a free agent on July 1 when his deal expires and it is understood he would like to extend his four-year stay at the Riverside.

Boro chiefs have indicated they would like the towering Greek shot-stopper to commit to new terms, although the search for a new head coach has taken priority.

That has left Konstantopoulos waiting for the fresh contract offer to be finalised and he is the only player in the Middlesbrough squad to have such uncertainty hanging over him.

Skipper Grant Leadbitter’s deal has had a one-year extension automatically triggered, while the loans of Alvaro Negredo and Calum Chambers have ended.

Konstantopoulos is having to wait until a new manager is confirmed before he can decide what his next move is and that has alerted a number of Football League clubs, with Championship options also there for him.

The 38-year-old was frustrated last season with his lack of football. After being a huge part of Middlesbrough’s promotion charges in the previous two campaigns, he didn’t play a single minute in the Premier League last season.

He turns 39 in November but has retained his fitness and feels he still has a lot to offer next season on Teesside.

The majority of fans thought he deserved to have had a chance in the top-flight but found himself behind Victor Valdes, who has since left following relegation, and Brad Guzan, who agreed to join Atlanta months ago.

Now he is waiting to learn if he will be staying at Middlesbrough, where Spaniard Tomas Mejias is also expected back to following his unsuccessful loan spell with Rayo Vallecano. He has a further year remaining on the deal he signed three years ago.

Konstantopoulos won the first team shirt from the Mejias and then kept a record busting 21 clean sheets in Middlesbrough’s promotion winning season.

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson is working on who will be the next manager and both Nigel Pearson and Garry Monk remain the front-runners for the post.

There has been complete silence from the club throughout the search, although Gibson is understood to have now spoken to Steve Agnew, who has harboured hopes of landing the role on a full-time basis.

Agnew has the support of the dressing room and pre-season preparations are well under way, with the help of the former No 2.

Middlesbrough need a new manager in place as soon as they can so that they can take the next step in terms of recruitment and shape the squad for the Championship.

Midfielder Marten de Roon, who made his second appearance for Holland this week, is going to be one of Middlesbrough’s most sought after players. He is attracting interest from Lazio, Watford and Everton, less than a year after moving from Atalanta in a £12m switch.

De Roon was one of Middlesbrough’s better players during the relegation campaign and cashing in on him could boost the summer spending ahead of August’s kick-off.