Middlesbrough FC: If nothing happens, these 4 players will leave the Riverside | OneFootball

Middlesbrough have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs, although it feels very unlikely.

Michael Carrick’s side have failed to build on their finish in the play-offs, but have been in good form of late which has given them a slim chance of finishing in the top six in consecutive seasons.

Boro have a number of young talented players who may be poached in the summer if they do not achieve promotion.

Hayden Hackney and Rav van den Berg are two players who have been rumoured to leave with Premier League sides interested.

However, there are four players who are set to depart in the summer with their contracts expiring at the end of the season.

Jamie Jones

Jones is a 35-year-old goalkeeper, who joined the club last summer on a one-year deal as a third-choice.

The former Stevenage stopper had previously spent the last six seasons with Wigan Athletic, making 17 league appearances last season as they were relegated to League One.

Jones was never expected to play matches, with fellow summer signing Seny Dieng retaining the number one spot for the majority of the season, whilst Tom Glover has also had a handful of appearances too.

However, Boro may decide to keep Jones on as their third-choice goalkeeper if he is happy to see out his career in that way, so we may see him extend for another year.

Liam Roberts

Another goalkeeper, Roberts has been at Boro since the summer of 2022, joining from Northampton Town.

He only made five appearances across all competitions last season for Boro, with Zack Steffen being the first-choice in-between the sticks last season when on loan from Man City.

This season, Roberts has been on loan at Barnsley in League One and has been arguably one of the best players in his position in the division, so he will have a whole host of suitors come the summer.

Roberts said last month that he has not heard anything from Boro in regards to a contract extension, saying that he is focused on Barnsley’s promotion push - and his performances could either lead to a permanent move to Oakwell or perhaps even a Championship switch.

Jonny Howson

Howson is a central midfielder who has been at the Riverside since joining in the summer of 2017, moving from Norwich City.

The 35-year-old has made over 300 appearances for the club, being a regular for Boro every season - including this one too despite his advancing years.

Despite his age, he continues to be an important player for the Teessiders, appearing over 35 times for Boro this season in all competitions.

Carrick has said that he is relaxed over Howson’s future contract talks, so he may stay on another year yet - although at some point in the near future he will no longer be a regular starter week in, week out.

Paddy McNair

The Northern Ireland international has been with Boro since the summer of 2018, joining from local rivals Sunderland.

Making over 200 appearances throughout his time at the club, the versatile McNair has seen less of the pitch this season.

But the 28-year-old still has plenty of ability and is still a regular for the side.

It remains unclear as to whether McNair will sign a new deal, as he said last month that he was ‘relaxed’ about his contract situation, in the hope there will be talks at the end of the season.

That end of the season is fast approaching though, and having spent time on the sidelines this season, one of Boro's longest-serving players could be on the way out.