MIDDLESBROUGH are interested in Central Coast Mariners winger Sammy Silvera, who looks set to leave the Australian champions this summer.

Scottish Premiership side Hearts have already had bids for the 22-year-old knocked back this summer, while Plymouth Argyle are also interested, as well as several clubs in Asia, with Mariners owner Richard Peil saying "the phone has been ringing off the hook".

And it has now emerged that the London-born wideman is a target for Michael Carrick's Boro.

Peil believes Silvera would benefit from another year with Mariners, who are managed by ex-Sheffield United midfielder Nick Montgomery, but admitted the club won't stand in the winger's way if he makes it clear he wants to leave.

Sources in Australia say Central Coast expect Silvera to leave but only if interested clubs meet their asking price, with reports claiming they're holding out for at least a "high six-figure sum". He has two years left to run on his Mariners contract.

Peil told Australian publication FTBL: "There has been a lot of interest in Sammy - and justifiably so - from multiple clubs in both the UK and Asia. There have been several concrete offers to go along with that but nothing has been decided yet.

“Personal success gets players noticed and Sammy deserves the attention, and as a club we’re not surprised either. His class was there for all to see at the back end of the season, and of course in the Grand Final, and it’s no shock that the phone has been ringing off the hook to ask about him.

“We are not in the business of standing in the way of players if they really want to go elsewhere to help their career. However, I genuinely feel Sammy would benefit greatly from another year in the A-League.

“There’s a fine line there sometimes. He’s been overseas before and returned home to kick start things again.

"He knows he’s going to play regularly here where he would benefit greatly from another year under the guidance of Monty (Nick Montgomery) and Serg (Sérgio Raimundo, assistant manager).”

The winger started out in Australia with Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners, before a two-year spell in Portugal with Pacos de Ferreira. He then returned to Australia where he's really found his feet and enjoyed the best season of his career so far last term, scoring eight goals and registering six assists in all competitions. He scored one goal and created another in Mariners' 6-1 Grand Final demolition of Melbourne City.

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Wide attack is one area Carrick is keen to strengthen this summer. Boro will continue to monitor Aaron Ramsey's Aston Villa situation after the winger's short but successful spell on Teesside last season. It's not clear at this stage whether Ramsey will be part of Unai Emery's plans next season or if Villa decide the 20-year-old will be better off playing regularly in another loan.

While Boro will keep a close eye on that situation, they will press on with other targets.

Meanwhile, Boro defender Jack Robinson has joined Carlisle on a permanent deal after spending the second half of last season on loan with Paul Simpson's side and helping them win promotion to League One.

The 22-year-old spent nine years with Boro and made two first team appearances, both when Neil Warnock was in charge.