NEIL WARNOCK admits it is extremely unlikely that Middlesbrough will be signing Everton winger Yannick Bolasie this month.

A proposed loan deal for Bolasie fell through on transfer-deadline day in October, and with Warnock keen to sign a couple of attacking wide players before the current transfer window closes on February 1, it had been anticipated that he would make another move for the 31-year-old.

However, while the Boro boss has spoken to a number of potential targets this month, he has had no contact with Bolasie. As a result, he does not expect a deal for the Everton outcast to be revived.

Warnock said: “We’re still looking at wide players, but I’ve not spoken to Yannick for about a month really. There’s nothing in that at all at the moment.

“I’ve not spoken to him for about a month, so I can’t see it happening without me speaking to him.”

Warnock remains confident he will be able to recruit at least one attacking wide player before the end of the month, but the Boro boss has accepted he will almost certainly not be signing a new striker.

The Teessiders came close to recruiting a striker last week, only for a proposed deal to fall through, and with Ashley Fletcher having been pencilled in for a return in the game at Norwich City a week on Saturday, Warnock does not expect to be making another move for an out-and-out striker.

He said: “I don’t think we’re likely to get anybody in up front now. There’s nothing really close. Striker wise, we missed out on one last week, but that’s how it is.

“Ashley Fletcher is stepping up his training, and I’m optimistic about him being back in the next fortnight, before the end of the month.

“That will be like signing a player really, so I’ve just got to be thankful he’s on the mend and hope he keeps coming through his rehabilitation.”