HULL City boss Ruben Selles admits he's held talks with Ryan Giles over his future, amid fresh interest from Middlesbrough in the left-back.

Michael Carrick remains keen on bringing Boro's former loanee back to the Riverside this month, and initial talks have taken place with Hull.

The Tigers are understood to be happy to offload Giles this month, but will need to be realistic with their asking price and demands. The Championship strugglers won't be able to recoup the £4m they spent on Giles when they signed him on loan a year ago with an obligation to make the deal permanent last summer.

Giles has struggled for form at the MKM Stadium and is understood to be desperate to return to Boro, as he was in the summer.

And Selles hasn't ruled out a move for Giles this month.

He said: “We obviously keep an open conversation with Ryan. We have been working together now for six or seven weeks and there are things that we can improve. We have constant communication with him and he has played for us, especially in the very, very beginning.

"He’s played a little bit less recently since the Preston substitution when he felt something in his hamstring. It’s a situation we need to monitor very closely. We are talking with him and we have already established that we need to sign a left-back this month. Let’s therefore see what the decision is, not only for us, but also him."

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Latte Lath, Doak & Giles latest as Michael Carrick talks Middlesbrough transfers

• Middlesbrough duo could return at Portsmouth and Tommy Conway injury update & 'hope'

• Middlesbrough transfer plan & cycle is exciting - regardless of Latte Lath outcome

Selles admits he isn't overly involved with transfer discussions at the early stages, leaving Hull's head of recruitment Jared Dublin to handle matters.

He said: "Jared is managing all those situations. Until the final stages they don't discuss with me if the move is on or not. I haven't received anything yet.

"I don't want to be in the early stages. That takes my focus and attention away from what is important. If it's just speculation or a phone call, I don't really need to know."

Asked how Giles is dealing with the speculation and current uncertainty surrounding his future, Selles said: "I think he is handling it. When you're not having the best season, there's so much speculation about your qualities and abilities. He's mature enough and he's handling it as well as he can."