Warnock expects out of contract players to leave Boro this summer

Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock is already planning for next season, and he is trying to prepare his squad as we approach the summer transfer window.

The contracts of many Boro players will expire at the end of the season. Marvin Johnson, Britt Assombalonga, Ashley Fletcher, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing are all expected to leave this summer.

Warnock has already confirmed that forward Britt Assombalonga will leave the club this summer, but he has not pinpointed any other player that will leave. However, he has stated that he expects all the players whose contracts are expiring this summer to leave as he targets fresh players.

Neeskens Kebano, Marcus Bettinelli and Yannick Bolasie, are all set to return to their respective parent clubs in the summer transfer window.

"I've had enough conversations in the past; I don't need to have any more," said Warnock. "I'll make decisions, or the players will tell me anyway, and we'll move on."

"Obviously, I'm always looking at players that we can bring in, expecting players that are out of their contract to leave. That’s what I expect. If it changes and things are different, then so be it."

"We've already been putting plans in place and looking for players who could replace the players who will leave. Striker wise, we've probably been looking for 12 months – and we're still no nearer getting one."

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Warnock will be looking to mount a promotion challenge next season and it seems a major squad rebuild will be undertaken this summer.