Middlesbrough head of football Kieran Scott admits that youngster Hayden Hackney will attract Premier League interest.
The 21-year-old has been outstanding for coach Michael Carrick in the Championship this term.
Hackney is being linked with a move to Liverpool and other top clubs in England.
"You talk about ambition and wanting to get to the Premier League, you can't be losing players like Hayden," said Scott, via the Twe12thman podcast.
"He's one we want to keep, he's a Redcar boy, a local boy, he loves the club and wants to stay. I can't be nave, if he continues to develop at the rate and outgrows us, it's inevitable clubs will come.
I think we could have the same with Rav. They are two players who we need to catch up at times because we don't want to see them disappear.
"You get calls, people ask a lot of questions on our players, they get beaten back with an aggressive go away but at the same time they want to know what they're like as boys. We'd be nave if we thought Hayden hadn't caught the eye of Premier League clubs, of course he has.
I know Hayden is in no rush, he's a local boy who wants to play for Middlesbrough."
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