MARTIN BRAITHWAITE wants to concentrate on helping Middlesbrough back to the big time rather than consider leaving in the January transfer window despite ongoing interest from abroad.

Spanish clubs Girona and Levante are known to have shown an interest in the Danish international before the end of the summer window but ran out of time to strike a deal, even if Tony Pulis felt a lot of the talk was agent led.

Both clubs are performing well in La Liga and are said to be considering a fresh approach in the new year, although he has outlined to manager Tony Pulis that he wants to focus on helping Middlesbrough.

Braithwaite has sorted out any differences he had with the former West Brom manager early in his time at the Riverside Stadium, which led to him heading to Bordeaux on loan last January.

He then started the new season well with Middlesbrough after a productive pre-season but then stuttered a little after the uncertainty surrounding his future resurfaced in August.

However, the 27-year-old is firmly back in the thick of things on Teesside and helped Middlesbrough to a 2-0 win over Wigan in their last outing.

He is expected to start again at Brentford this Saturday as Middlesbrough look to climb to the top of the Championship after the international break – one which he scored for Denmark in against Wales.

While away on international duty, Braithwaite was asked whether he expects to stay at Middlesbrough until at least the summer.

"Yes," he said. "To me I do not think so much about things. I play soccer and focus on the ambition, which is moving up.

“At the same time, I know, and I have learned through the years that football is very powerful, so you cannot really say what's going to happen in six months. You can only live in the present and that's what I'm trying to do."

Middlesbrough sit second in the table, two points behind Norwich who have climbed up the league since beating the Teessiders in mid-September.

"We are in a great position. We are on the rise, and that's the ambition so it's just about continuing," said Braithwaite. "We know there are lots of matches yet, and we're just continuing to build.”

Middlesbrough do not have any fresh injury worries ahead of the trip to Griffin Park, but off the field they are letting their feelings known on the way the new Sky Sports deal has been concluded.

Middlesbrough are among the Championship clubs who have signed a public statement of discontent. They are said to be concerned that the English Football League agreed the five year £595m deal without their final ratification.

It is argued that the package that has been given the go-ahead has changed without their knowledge from the one agreed last year.

Leeds, Derby and Aston Villa have led the drive and Middlesbrough are among the 19 clubs who signed the statement.

It read: “Championship clubs are gravely concerned that the EFL board has announced it has approved a new long-term domestic broadcasting rights deal.

“Nineteen clubs from the league wrote to the EFL asking them not to sign the proposed deal and to engage in meaningful discussions. This was ignored.

“The clubs discovered that in the space of 15 months, without our knowledge, material changes had been made to this draft agreement.

“When the EFL Board presented the new version of the deal - it gave more games and rights for less money and damaged the ability of clubs to control the decision to stream games and its pricing.

“Our issues are not with Sky, who we respect and value, but with the way in which the proposed agreement has been negotiated and explained to clubs.

“We remain convinced that any solution to the broadcasting of EFL competitions can only be on the basis of protecting attendances and securing the financial position of all our 72 clubs. There is a calm determination within Championship clubs to ensure the matter is not left here.”

The original agreement is believed to have been for £600m over five seasons and Sky Sports has now obtained eight extra midweek games a season. They are also unhappy at the ‘red button’ service which they say has damaged gates this season without receiving a facility fee.