Just in: Middlesbrough have a clear summer transfer priority following midfielder’s decision.

Middlesbrough will not pursue moves to sign any of its loanees this summer, with the exception of veteran right-back Luke Ayling, who is available on free.

While there was an agreement in place to potentially sign Sam Greenwood this summer, both he and Luke Thomas have ultimately failed to demonstrate enough during their respective spells at the Riverside to convince Boro that they should be signed – with Thomas receiving a pay increase as a result of Leicester City’s promotion, and Greenwood set to do the same if Leeds win the play-offs.

The third loanee transfer choice, that of Lewis O’Brien, has sparked a little more controversy, with fans divided on whether Boro should have attempted to purchase the 25-year-old permanently from Nottingham Forest. While his and Forest’s futures remain uncertain, Boro are already planning for next season, and O’Brien is not among them.

Arriving on Teesside last summer in what was regarded as a coup signing considering the brilliance he demonstrated in his previous Championship campaign, taking Huddersfield Town to the play-off final, his injury-plagued season has ultimately limited his impact at Boro.

But, after finishing the season with a decent run in the team, the midfielder demonstrated enough to suggest that, if his future isn’t at the City Ground next season, he’ll be a valuable addition to any Championship outfit this summer.

Boro’s decision not to pursue a deal to sign O’Brien at this time is the first major indication that the club has an exciting summer ahead of them. Michael Carrick recently emphasized the importance of continuity, which could indicate that the club is still confident in keeping Hayden Hackney next season.

Boro have been adamant about keeping the Redcar star at the Riverside, but they are bracing for summer offers, with many Premier League teams showing an interest in the midfielder. While Boro are in a good position because of his contract, they are always apprehensive of maintaining players who eventually want to leave due to the allure of the Premier League.

If Hackney stays, Boro will most likely need another center midfielder next season, considering O’Brien’s departure. While Law McCabe made an excellent impression in his full debut against Watford, the 17-year-old will undoubtedly be too young to be promoted to one of Boro’s four key midfield options for next season, when the club hopes to compete for promotion.

If McCabe is promoted based on his performance in first-team training this season, the signs regarding the level of possibility Boro have on their hands will be tremendous.

More likely, McCabe will continue in much the same way he has this season, as a regular in the first-team squad while playing more games for the Under-21s. As a result, Boro will need to look to the market to strengthen their midfield.

There’s no denying that, throughout the more difficult parts of the season, Boro frequently lacked balance in their midfield, with numerous opponents finding it much too easy to transition on them. While O’Brien has had energy on his side in recent weeks, it’s fair to argue that his approach to the ball from the middle of the pitch is quite similar to Hackney’s.

While Jonny Howson supplies that defensive mindset, the hope must be that, with Howson reaching 36, a suitable replacement will be found for him – and this is likely to have affected the decision on O’Brien’s future.

Whoever it is, it is apparent that Boro have found alternative targets to replace their midfield deficit this summer, which should be an exciting prospect, especially given the number of gems discovered by the recruitment team last summer. And with stronger foundations this year, there will be less focus on such a signing hitting the ground running without a period of adjustment.

Boro are unlikely to conduct anywhere near the magnitude of incoming business they were compelled to do last summer, with Carrick’s recent continuing assertions being based on the status of the squad at the end of the season. However, with an emphasis on quality over quantity in crucial areas, Boro appear to be on track for an ambitious summer, with O’Brien’s decision serving as the first important indicator.