Man City winger Patrick Roberts' future is up in the air after Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock revealed he had 'other signing priorities'.

Former Celtic loanee Roberts has been on loan at the Riverside and Warnock would fancy taking the player permanently from City, who are believed to be willing to do business.

However the Boro boss admits he may have to focus his time elsewhere as the club need defenders in first.

He said: "I think the problem with signing Patrick is that we’d have to sign two defensive full-backs and I have more priorities. I’d like to sign full-backs and I’d like to sign Patrick but I have to sort of juggle what I’ve got, what I can spend, what the chances are and at the moment it’s not a priority to sign a wide player who can play there."

Roberts, 23, is surplus to requirements at City despite his contract running until 2022. That could make a fee more substantial than it might have been.