MIDDLESBROUGH are unlikely to strengthen their squad with any free agents as things stand, though the club will continue to monitor the market for potential opportunities.

The club's head of football Kieran Scott last week revealed that Boro were assessing the market for unattached players after the January transfer window had closed.

The club's recruitment team will continue to keep an eye out for free agents but head coach Michael Carrick says he's happy with his current squad.

"We're always looking," said Carrick.

"We have a really good group. We have really good options, we're not chasing anything or desperate by any stretch.

"We know we need to improve but we're working to do that and I really believe the boys we have here will make the difference."

Pressed further on free agents, Carrick said: "It's not really a big thing at all to be honest. There's not really anything in it.

"We're always looking at things but that's about it, there's nothing else to say."

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Carrick remains satisfied with his options in the forward third, despite the exit of Matt Crooks this week, who completed his move to Real Salt Lake, signing a three-year deal with the MLS side.

Carrick was disappointed to lose the 30-year-old but didn't want to stand in the way of Crooks, who was excited by the opportunity of a new challenge in the United States.

The head coach said: "Crooksy was fantastic for me, he was fantastic around the place on and off the pitch, a real personality and he gave everything he had for me, the staff, the club. He's a real credit to himself.

"There's an element of missing him but that's the nature of football. It's unfortunate but he's going on to a new adventure and challenge. Crooksy has taken that choice for him and his family and we wish him the very best.

"There's no denying what he brought on and off the pitch. I've been in football a long time and when you lose a player, whether it's to injury or a transfer, it creates another opportunity for somebody else to step in and take that on.

"It's constant evolution and it's up to someone else to step in. That's how football works."