MARK SCHWARZER last night admitted it is likely he will leave Middlesbrough before the end of the month.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper confessed that club have not returned with an improved contract offer since negotiations broke down last November and added his future on Teesside is now "uncertain".

With the transfer window four days old Schwarzer is now free to sign a pre-contractual agreement should a club make an approach and make a permanent move in June.

Speculation about the Australian international's future has raged for months with Arsenal and Manchester United monitoring the situation.

"I must admit my future is uncertain and all I'm focusing on is playing to the best of my ability week-in and week-out," said the Boro keeper on his personal website.

"I cannot rule out the possibility that I might move this month because I have to look after and secure my own future.

"Middlesbrough may decide that they wish to cash in and sell me to another club before January 31, but it would have to be the right club. At this moment in time, with no progress at all with regards to a new contract I have to weigh up my options.

"If the right offer came from a club I would like to play for I would have to consider that seriously.

"As with any job, and as a husband and father, I need to secure my future as soon as possible, with the right contract at the right club."

Schwarzer believes he is in the best form of his career and says he is disappointed Boro have not come back and rewarded him with an improved offer.

And he admitted he will be sorry to leave Teesside after making so many friends during his seven years at the club.

He added: "If I were to leave I would certainly miss working with goalkeeping coach Paul Barron, who is the best coach I have ever worked with.

"He deserves a lot of credit for the way I have progressed in the last three seasons, but who knows, maybe some day we will be able to work together again.

"I would definitely encourage the other goalkeepers at Middlesbrough to learn as much as they can from him and the way he approaches the game, so they can reap the benefits in the same way I have."

l McClaren confirmed his attempts to sign Greece midfielder Giorgios Karagounis had been rejected by Inter Milan. ''We looked at bringing him here on loan but Inter weren't interested in that arrangement so it's gone no further.''

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