The 34-year-old is entering the final year of his contract with the Teessiders and has turned down their initial offer of an extension.

Schwarzer's agent Shep Messing is locked in talks with the club in an attempt to reach a resolution, but he has already warned that a move elsewhere will be on the cards unless Boro come up with an acceptable offer to the veteran.

But the Socceroo has offered manager Gareth Southgate a lukewarm assurance that he will still be at the Premier League club when next month's big kick-off comes around.

"I'm under contract with Middlesbrough, so it would be illegal to have any contact with clubs while under contract, so as far as I'm concerned, no," he told Sky Sports News when asked if he had discussed a move with other clubs.

"I have one year left on my contract, and until such time that I'm no longer under contract or that I have been told anything else, then as far as I'm concerned I'm at Middlesbrough and I will be at the start of the season."