Middlesbrough Exclusive: Significant Anfernee Dijksteel update today

Middlesbrough have rejected approaches from multiple Championship clubs for defender Anfernee Dijksteel, sources have told Football Insider.

Dijksteel, 27, has entered the final year of his deal at the Riverside and clubs are keen on signing the right-back before the end of the transfer window.

Clubs from abroad are also keeping a close eye on his situation and have seen similar bids turned down by Michael Carrick’s side.

The boss is not keen to see his side weakened further before the window closes on Friday (30 August) and views Dijksteel as a valuable member of the squad.

He has featured three times already this season, playing 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw v Portsmouth and the 3-0 Carabao Cup win v Leeds in which he scored – while he came on at half-time in the 5-0 defeat to Stoke.

Middlesbrough reject multiple bids to sign Anfernee Dijksteel

Dijksteel joined Boro from Charlton in 2019 and has since gone on to make 134 appearances for the Championship outfit.

However, his influence on Carrick’s squad has faded in recent seasons as he featured just 24 times last time out – coming from the bench in 13 of those.

The arrival of Luke Ayling from Leeds, initially on loan in January before the deal was made permanent, also pushed the right-back further down the pecking order.

Middlesbrough are keen to keep Dijksteel around as part of their squad as they look to push for promotion from the Championship once more.

Despite this, they could be pushed to cash in on the defender rather than lose him for free next summer amid strong interest in his signature.

Sides across Europe believe they can tempt Boro to sell in the closing stages and are testing their resolve with official bids.

After finishing eighth last time out, just four points off the playoff places, Carrick’s men are looking to go one step further this time around.

This means keeping the bulk of their squad together as they are reluctant to lose players before the deadline – having seen only four depart permanently so far.

In other news, Chelsea are plotting a move for Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.

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