Boro midfielder Martin Payero possible return 'very exciting' for Banfield boss

Payero swapped his native South America for Teesside almost a year ago when Boro paid a suggested fee of around £4 million from Banfield on a three-year deal. However, a frustrating first year on Teesside suffering numerous injuries and being short of game time limited the midfielder to just 15 appearances in all competitions. His only goal for the club came in a 2-0 win against Cardiff City back in October last year.

Payero has been on holiday with the son of Banfield manager Claudio Vivas in Miami in recent weeks in the off season. Vivas son, who used to play alongside Payero at Banfield, is said to have floated the idea of a return to Banfield.

With Payero understood to not be against the possibility of a return to Argentina, his days at Boro could be numbered with Banfield looking into negotiating a deal.

However, there may be some obstacles to overcome with the chances of a return look unlikely as manager Vivas told Hablemos de Banfield (translated in Spanish): "Yes, he’s good friends with my son. My son used to play for the club, that’s all true, I can’t deny it because it’s on social media.

• Read: Boro are hopeful of funding Viktor Gyokeres move with Djed Spence sale

"The truth is yes, we’re very excited that he could return to the club. He’s a player that’s done a lot for the club, a lot of good things and we think that, for us, it would be lovely to have him back. So, that’s what we’re on with.

"But, like you’ve said, the transfer market is just very complicated for every team right now and it’s going to take a long time. He plays in Europe and let’s not forget that Europe closes on 31 August."

With Banfield's already two games into the new season, they are prioritising signings that they can make immediately. Vivas continued: "We’ve consulted a lot of players, we’ve been talking over the last ten days with the president and with the technical director and the truth is that, right now, it’s not easy.

"It’s the same for every club. We want to bring players that can give us immediate solutions and that can come to compete in a squad that’s full and well-designed. Our main objective is to have them all ready to go out and play today."

Martin Payero celebrates scoring for Boro against Cardiff City

Boro may be willing to let Payero make his return back to Argentina but would be looking to recoup the sum they shelled out for the 23-year-old last summer, which is suggested to be around £4 million. However, a temporary loan move may well be a possibility as he looks to earn regular game time.

Boro manager Chris Wilder is set to make sweeping changes at the club ahead of next season as he looks to conduct early business in the summer transfer window.

Wilder has already spoken to the players regarding their own individual futures to give the playing squad clarity while the boss has admitted he's contacted agents and potential targets ahead of the summer transfer window.

Sol Bamba, Neil Taylor and Lee Peltier have all been released by the club but the future of a number of other players remain up in the air. 

While the club have not disclosed which players will be available for transfer, the Boro boss admitted a few weeks ago that those players have been told they will be free to leave in the summer.

Boro boss Chris Wider in training

Speaking in the days after the final game of the season, Wilder said: "From the players point of view, it is quite difficult because we are trying to maximise their potential as well. 

"Through the summer, players coming in, which I think is going to be a huge excitement to us all because we are confident we can attract some really good players to the football club. With that, we have to balance that off as well. 

"There will be deals to be done. I'm speaking to agents, club-to-club and I think it's important that we do maximise the value of the players that won't really be part of the journey. That will, in time, come to fruition to everybody."