MIDDLESBROUGH are set to reluctantly flog wantaway Gaston Ramirez to Leicester for £10million and replace him with Stoke's unsettled star Bojan.

Boro boss Aitor Karanka stressed there was "no chance" of the Uruguayan leaving the club this month after Saturday's draw at Watford.

5 Gaston Ramirez has his heart set on a move to Leicester Credit: Getty Images

However, SunSport understands that the Spanish manager's hand could be forced by the attacker, who is prepared to make life difficult in order to force his exit from the Riverside.

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Reports emerged last week that the Premier League champions were interested in the 26-year-old.

And Ramirez, who missed the stalemate at Vicarage Road through injury, is believed to have his heart set on a move to the Foxes.

Middlesbrough already have a ready-made replacement lined-up and will splash the cash from the sale on Bojan.

The ex-Barcelona man has grown frustrated with his lack of match action at the Potters and will make the move to the north east once deal for Ramirez has been finalised.

The 26-year-old has only figured 12 times for Stoke this season and has already decided that a move to Boro is needed to rejuvenate his career.

5 Unsettled Stoke star Bojan is the man Boro are replacing Ramirez with Credit: PA:Press Association

5 Boro boss Aitor Karanka wanted to keep Ramirez but the player is trying to force through a move Credit: PA:Press Association

5 Ramirez only joined Middlesbrough permanently last summer Credit: Reuters

Bojan is understood to feel frustrated at the lack of game time since he signed a new Stoke contract last February.

That deal was seen as a sign of faith in the midfielder after he had battled back from the cruciate ligament injury which kept him out of action for seven months from January 2015.

Despite an impressive start to last season, Bojan has been marginalised for much of the past year although he feels his performances when he has been given an opportunity prove he has not been hampered by his time on the sidelines.

And a move to join compatriot Karanka would be a fresh start to allow him to show the quality that saw him emerge as a star at Barcelona.

Bojan looks like he will be joined on Teesside by Chelsea's Patrick Bamford.

5 Bojan is unsettled at Stoke and wants more game time Credit: PA:Press Association

The striker is set to return to the club he won Championship player of the year at in 2015 on permanent deal after being recalled from his miserable loan spell at Burnley last weekend.

Despite reports elsewhere, he is not believed to be undergoing a medical on Teesside this afternoon, although the deal is likely to be pushed through before the end of the week.