Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka is angry over claims he was ready to quit if Gaston Ramirez was sold last month.

Karanka has rejected claims that he threatened to leave Middlesbrough in January if Ramirez was sold.

Ramirez's agent, Pablo Bentancur, told Tuttomercatoweb: "I was working to bring Ramirez to Leicester...With Middlesbrough it was a battle, the coach said that if Gaston had gone he would go away too."

However, the Independent say no ultimatum was issued and Karanka was willing to let Ramirez leave if a replacement was found.