Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick responded with realism when he was asked about the offers that Liverpool received — and rejected — for Ben Doak earlier this week.

Teenage winger Doak joined Boro on a season-long loan last summer, but the North East club faces losing the 19-year-old this month if Liverpool decides to sell him amid interest from several Premier League clubs.

The Reds knocked back offers from both Crystal Palace and Ipswich of around $17-$19 million to sign him over the last 48 hours, but would reportedly be willing to let the youngster leave for a fee of around $37 million.

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Doak has registered six assists and two goals for Boro this season, with one of those assists coming in the team's 1-1 draw with Cardiff on Saturday, and Carrick was asked about the prospect of losing one of his key players this month — something which could have a detrimental effect on Boro's pursuit of a Championship play-off spot.

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"Nothing's changed," Carrick said. "Loans are loans, that's how it is. In terms of the situation, it's exactly where we are. He (Doak) played today, looked dangerous and created a goal. It is what it is. Nothing has changed from our point of view. I'm pretty calm about it.

"He played today, he played well in spells and looked really dangerous. I have no worries about that. January can throw up different things. Sometimes you can keep players and sometimes you can lose players or teams come in for your players, that's just how it is. Everyone is important but we knew the situation when we got into it.

"We have some good players here and teams are obviously looking at our players because they're talented. It's a real positive for the football club to have those type of players in our squad.

"A lot of things can happen. We have to be ready for what comes along. Sometimes it's planned, sometimes it's from somewhere else and we have to deal with it. There won't be any surprises because we're ready for surprises."