GARRY MONK will raise around £30m by selling Adama Traore, Gaston Ramirez and Marten de Roon this summer – and the Middlesbrough manager will be handed the biggest transfer budget in the Championship as he looks to replace them.

While Steve Gibson has told Monk he does not have to sell anyone if he does not want to, Boro’s new boss is keen to freshen things up in the wake of last season’s relegation.

The Northern Echo:

There is a determination to hold on to Ben Gibson despite interest from a growing number of Premier League clubs, but Traore, Ramirez and de Roon are all expected to depart before the start of the new season.

Traore’s proposed £8m move to West Ham could be completed later this week, with the winger’s representatives having met Hammers officials at the end of last week.

The 21-year-old still has three years of his current contract to run, and Boro are set to accept the same price they paid Aston Villa to sign Traore last summer.

Chelsea were linked with a potential move for the winger in January, but Antonio Conte has cooled his interest and West Ham are now strong favourites to complete a deal.

Slaven Bilic is keen to add some pace to his side’s attacking line-up, and with Robert Snodgrass set to move on, regards Traore as an exciting alternative.

Ramirez came close to leaving Teesside in January, and there is a private acceptance amongst the Boro hierarchy that he should have been sold to Leicester when he submitted a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to the King Power Stadium.

Leicester are still interested, and Monk is understood to agree that a move would be the best outcome for all concerned.

The situation with de Roon is different as the Dutchman was one of Boro’s most consistent performers last season and is regarded as a valuable part of the dressing room.

However, with Lazio and Roma both having expressed an interest in acquiring his services, the midfielder has hinted he might have to leave the Riverside in order to retain his place in the Holland squad.

Boro will look to recoup the £12m they paid to sign de Roon from Atalanta last summer, and if they can make their money back, the 26-year-old will be allowed to leave.

Monk’s own transfer budget is not dependent on raising money from sales, but if Boro are able to bank around £30m from the sale of some of their stars, the former Swansea and Leeds boss will be afforded even more leeway in the market.

He is keen to sign Swansea centre-half Kyle Bartley, and is also lining up a move for Nottingham Forest striker Britt Assombalonga.