Middlesbrough offered Andraz Sporar for knockdown fee

However, with Chris Wilder pursuing a number of alternative attacking targets, the Teessiders are unlikely to be making a move for their former loanee.

Sporar is back with Sporting after spending last season on loan at the Riverside. The Slovenia international was a popular figure with the Middlesbrough fans during his year in the North-East, but ended the campaign having scored just eight goals in 35 Championship appearances.

As part of the loan agreement that was signed last summer, Boro negotiated a clause that would have enabled them to make Sporar’s temporary switch permanent for around €8.5m.

However, having regularly bemoaned his side’s lack of goalscoring threat last season, Wilder opted not to trigger the clause as he felt he could get better value for money elsewhere.

As things stand, Sporar is due to be part of the Sporting squad next season, but the club’s head coach, Ruben Amorim, has decided he cannot see the 28-year-old featuring in his plans.

That message has been passed on to Sporting’s recruitment team, who accept they are unlikely to receive last summer’s price tag for a player that failed to sparkle in the Championship last season.

As a result, they have indicated a willingness to accept a reduced price, and are understood to have offered Sporar to a number of English clubs, including Middlesbrough, for around €6m. With no offers forthcoming, there is a good chance the asking price will drop even lower.

Whether it will eventually reach a figure where Boro will be interested remains to be seen, but Wilder remains hopeful of making progress on alternative fronts before his squad reconvenes for the start of pre-season training later this week.

The Teessiders have made inquiries about Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle and Southampton’s Adam Armstrong, and are also preparing a loan offer for Aston Villa youngster Cameron Archer.