MIDDLESBROUGH have not received any fresh bids for skipper Matthew Bates, as Swansea City prepare to make a new year offer for the defender.
Although Bates is not thought to be interested in a move to Swansea, the matter of his contract still needs to be tied up.
Boro are hoping to stay in the promotion picture in the coming weeks but accept they will be forced to listen to offers for their captain who is out of contract at the end of the season.
The situation is complicated by the fact Middlesbrough do not know what division they will be in next season, so are unclear on what sort of deal they could offer him.
If Tony Mowbray can lead the club back to the Premier League then they will be in a much stronger position to go somewhere near to the top-flight wage he earns.
But another season of Championship football would mean that Bates would have to accept a severe reduction in his weekly wage to stay at the Riverside Stadium.
And the Stockton-born defender, who turns 25 this week, is well aware of interest from the Premier League. Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is also a long-standing admirer, while Swansea tried hard for him last summer.
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers was not prepared to match Middlesbrough's £1.5m valuation at that time, but January is likely to be a key month in the career of Bates, who will have just six months left to run on his contract.
Rodgers is keen to strengthen his defensive ranks and sources in South Wales claim Bates' versatility - he can play anywhere in defence or midfield - has attracted the Swans boss the most.
But Mowbray, who has recently admitted that any January signings are likely to be on the back of departures, is also keen to ensure his squad is not weakened to the point where the promotion charge is not damaged.
He does look like being boosted by the return to his squad of midfielder Kevin Thomson for this Saturday's visit of Brighton.
After recovering from two leg fractures, the Scotland international came through a reserves outing successfully and he now feels ready to compete for a place in Mowbray's midfield.
He said: "It's been frustrating since I came here, to be honest. It's been a one-and-a-half year nightmare.
"I've been doing double sessions in the gym and I feel quite lean and I just need match fitness now."
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