Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb admits Matthew Bates could be tempted to leave the club.
West Ham and Wigan have both been linked with the 22-year-old defender and, after he finally established himself in the top-flight after a series of injuries, Lamb admits he faces a ‘real dilemma’.
“He’s a local boy with a great love for the football club,” he told the club’s official website.
“He has a respect for Gareth [Southgate] and for what the club have done for Matthew over the last two years and particularly during his three cruciate ligament injuries.
“His dilemma is his heart tells him he should stay at Middlesbrough because it’s his local team and he wants us to do well and get us back into The Premier League as quickly as possible.
“But he also knows that, having missed two or three seasons through injuries, he needs to fast-track his own career.
“Now he’s had a taste of Premier League football I think he’d like more of it.
“His judgement is, ‘Do I stay where my heart wants to be, which is playing for the Boro, or, if another Premier League club gives me the opportunity, should I go there even though Middlesbrough have looked after me?’
“It’s going to be difficult for Matthew but contract negotiations are continuing and we’re hopeful we can persuade him to stay with Middlesbrough and that is where his future lies.
“We are still very hopeful that he will stay. If he goes, we’ll understand his reasons, but he knows we don’t want him to go and we’re optimistic he’ll stay.”