UCHE Ikpeazu is still awaiting an offer to seal a move away from Middlesbrough as manager Chris Wilder clarifies his current situation.

The Ugandan frontman has been training away from the Boro first-team with the Boro boss deeming him surplus to requirements at the club.

Ikpeazu sealed a permanent move from Wycombe Wanderers last season under the tenureship of Neil Warnock and signed a three-year deal with the club.

The six foot three inch striker made a strong start to life on Teesside with two goals in four games but his performances faded in the first half of the season and his place was taken by loanee Andraz Sporar. 

Following Warnock's sacking, Wilder was appointed in November and he was told to find a new club during the January transfer window. A move to Championship side Cardiff City came on deadline day where he went on to score three goals in 13 games.

With the first-team squad arriving back for pre-season, Ikpeazu was once again told to find a move to another club and that remains the situation.

“He trains away from here because he’s not part of the group. For his benefit he needs to sort himself out and get a club" said Wilder.

"As far as I’m concerned, if there is anything there, the boy should, and I’m sure he does, want to go and play football. Nothing has come up yet, but I’m sure before the window shuts he can find himself a new club and he can get on with being a professional footballer."

Ikpeazu has almost certainly played his last game for the club which came in a 3-2 FA Cup win over Mansfield where he scored the opening goal of the game.

He would be available for selection but Wilder is opting to bring in his own options during the January transfer window as they look to orchestrate a move for Norwegian striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who has been the subject of a bid from Boro.

Meanwhile, Wilder currently has Marcus Forss, Chuba Akpom, Duncan Watmore and Josh Coburn to choose from as part of his attacking options.

Forss has spent the last week on the training ground with his new team mates for the first time and the manager likes what he has seen from the Finnish striker so far.

“We’ve seen a young guy that was desperate to come and join us. That’s a big tick in the box with his attitude to come up the road." Wilder continued.

“Can’t not be impressed in terms of what he saw on Saturday and I should imagine he wants to get involved in that. He’s done his homework and we’ve done our homework on him. It’s a week but in that, there is a day off and on Thursday and Friday you can’t crash them too much but we’ve had a couple of good working days.

“He will improve and he will be an asset to the football club."