Middlesbrough striker Martin Braithwaite looked set to leave the club at the start of the transfer window, with both Bordeaux and Lazio interest in the Dane, but nothing came to fruition.
Braithwaite has got his head down at Middlesbrough so far this season, and has three goals in four games for Boro. However, according to The Northern Echo, the Denmark international still wants to leave the club to return to France.
The striker has enjoyed the most success of his career in France, with spells at both Bordeaux and Toulouse. Braithwaite spent the second half of last season at Bordeaux, and scored four goals in ten starts for Gus Poyet’s side.
Although speculation seems to have died down, and interest from the French Ligue 1 in Braithwaite looks to have cooled, The Northern Echo suggest Braithwaite could still look to move away from the Riverside back to France.
However, the striker has started life back in the Championship with a bang, and has thrived in the new 3-5-2 formation up front with strike partner Britt Assombalonga, scoring five goals in four games between them.
After scoring the opening goal against Sheffield United just a couple of weeks ago, Braithwaite ran off to celebrate pointing to the Middlesbrough badge on his chest, and looked as though he was up for the fight in the Championship. But these new reports could suggest otherwise.
The European transfer market is open until the end of the month, and Braithwaite could yet leave on a permanent deal rather than securing just a loan move. But having lost star men in Adama Traore, Ben Gibson and Patrick Bamford this window, and it would seem unlikely that Tony Pulis would allow another important first-team player to leave.