GASTON RAMIREZ will be at Rockliffe Park today as Middlesbrough’s players step up their pre-season preparations, but the midfielder does not have a future with the club and will not be considered for first-team duties next season.

The majority of Boro players reported back for the start of pre-season training yesterday and held their first meeting with new boss Garry Monk.

They underwent a series of physical tests and assessments, and are expected to take part in their first summer training session later today.

Ben Gibson, Adlene Guedioura, Marten de Roon and Cristhian Stuani have all been given permission to return at a later date because of their post-season international exertions, but Ramirez is following the same schedule as the rest of the squad despite effectively having being frozen out of the first-team picture at the end of last season.

The Uruguayan was sidelined after his petulant dismissal at Bournemouth in the final month of the campaign, having already infuriated the Boro hierarchy by submitting a transfer request in an attempt to force through a January move to Leicester City.

Chairman, Steve Gibson is known to have been extremely frustrated by Ramirez’s conduct in the second half of the season, and while Monk has free rein to do as he chooses this summer, the new Boro boss has no intention of handing the midfielder an olive branch.

The Northern Echo:

Monk has taken soundings about Ramirez’s behaviour and mind-set, and has concluded it would be better if the 26-year-old was not involved in Boro’s senior squad next season. He will be training at Rockliffe Park over the next nine days, but it remains to be seen whether he is part of the group that travels to Portugal for a training camp a week on Sunday.

Boro officials are actively trying to generate interest in his services, and a number of clubs have been sounded out as potential destinations.

Leicester remain interested, although the Foxes have moved on to alternative targets since failing to recruit Ramirez at the turn of the year. There is also understood to be interest from Spain, although Ramirez’s wages could make it difficult for a number of lower-league La Liga clubs to be able to afford to sign him permanently.

One player did complete a permanent departure from Teesside yesterday, with Viktor Fischer joining German club Mainz on a four-year contract.

Fischer’s exit comes just a year after he signed for Boro, with the Teessiders understood to have recouped the vast majority of the £3.8m they shelled out to sign him from Ajax 12 months ago.

The Northern Echo:

The 23-year-old was unable to make much of an impression at the Riverside, and leaves having made just six Premier League starts for Boro.

“Mainz is the right club for me to enjoy my football again,” said Fischer, whose time on Teesside was blighted by a persistent knee problem. “Mainz is a beautiful city, we have a great stadium, I want to be a part of this team and this club quickly. I want to get in shape and then bring my qualities as an offensive player.”

Fischer was regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Europe when he originally broke through at Ajax, and Mainz will be hoping he can rediscover his top form in the Bundesliga.

“Viktor Fischer is a very exciting player with great potential,” said Mainz sporting director Rouven Schroder. “He is also a technically savvy, tricky and powerful attacker, whose quality will improve and make our team more versatile. We are delighted he has chosen a future at Mainz 05.”

Boro completed two signings yesterday, with Lewis Wing and Tom Brewitt both joining the club’s development squad.

Wing’s transfer from Northern League club Shildon was effectively signed and sealed months ago, but was officially confirmed yesterday with the 22-year-old attacking midfielder signing a one-year deal.

“We’re delighted to welcome Lewis to the club,” said Boro academy manager Craig Liddle. “He’s an exciting player who arrives on the back of an impressive season, and we look forward to seeing how he can develop here at Boro.”

Brewitt arrives as a free agent, having been released from his previous contract at Liverpool earlier this summer.

The 20-year-old defender spent a decade with Liverpool’s academy, and is a former England youth international who will join Boro’s Under-23 set-up.

“We’re pleased to be welcoming Tom to Boro,” said Liddle. “He’s a talented lad who has ten years of progress under his belt with Liverpool, and we’ll all be working hard to ensure that development continues at Boro.”