MIDDLESBROUGH’S pursuit of Dan Barlaser is being complicated by the sell-on fee that Rotherham United would have to hand over to Newcastle United if they were to sell the midfielder.

Boro’s recruitment team have made Barlaser their leading midfield target as they look to strengthen the squad that will be available to head coach Michael Carrick in the second half of the season.

The Gateshead-born 25-year-old is due to become a free agent at the end of the current campaign, and is not expected to sign a new deal at the New York Stadium.

Given his contractual status, it makes sense for Rotherham to cash in this month rather than lose Barlaser for nothing in the summer, but the Millers, who are embroiled in a Championship relegation battle, will not receive the full amount of whatever fee is agreed.

When Barlaser joined Rotherham from Newcastle on a permanent basis in October 2020, the Magpies inserted a sell-on clause that means they are entitled to 40 per cent of any fee that is received for the sale of the midfielder.

That effectively means Rotherham will bank just over half of whatever sum is agreed this month, resulting in the Millers hierarchy looking to drive as hard a bargain as possible.

Reports last week suggested Middlesbrough had tabled a £900,000 offer for Barlaser, although Rotherham boss Matt Taylor denied his club had received that high a bid when he addressed the issue at the weekend.

Taylor did, however, concede that Boro were interested in signing Barlaser, and confirmed there had been offers from more than one club for the midfielder’s services this month.

“There have been bids for Dan, but that number (£900,000) isn’t correct,” said the Millers manager. “Dan is still our player, as it stands.

“I was pleased with where he was on the pitch (in Rotherham’s 4-0 win over Blackburn) and what he could do for the team.

“We know what is coming in the next couple of weeks. The interest will probably heighten in him, and possibly in a couple of our other players. We will have to handle that interest on its merit every time it comes in.”

Boro are expected to make a renewed approach for Barlaser before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, with Carrick keen to secure a central-midfield alternative to his current first-choice pairing of Jonny Howson and Hayden Hackney.

There is an acceptance that Howson, who is due to turn 35 in May, will not be able to maintain his current high standards forever, while there is also a desire to avoid placing too high a workload on 20-year-old Hackney, who is in his first full season in the senior ranks.

Boro have alternative options in case they are unable to pull off a deal for Hackney, with St Mirren’s Australia international Keanu Baccus understood to be one of the players under consideration.

Baccus, who joined St Mirren in the summer from Australian side Western Sydney, was one of the breakthrough stars of the Socceroos squad that made it through to the knockout stages of the recent World Cup in Qatar.

The 24-year-old, who only signed a two-year deal when he moved to Scotland, is valued at around £350,000, with St Mirren’s financial position meaning they will struggle to turn down concrete offers around that sum.

Norwich City and Cardiff City are also understood to be monitoring Baccus’ situation, although Boro’s strong Australian links could work in their favour if they were to make a formal move in the next fortnight.

Boro midfielder Riley McGree was one of Baccus’ team-mates in Qatar, with the pair having played alongside each other in the starting line-up for the Socceroos’ defeat to eventual world champions Argentina in the round of 16 game.