Rotherham United manager Matt Taylor says any reports that Dan Barlaser is set for a move away from the New York Stadium are “false”.

It has been claimed that Middlesbrough and a number of other Championship teams are interested in signing the 25-year-old, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season. However, Taylor says he is determined to keep the player:

“Dan has been a good player for this football club for a while now and one of our better performers since I have come in terms of what he has produced. He has been a stand-out. I’d expect him to have interest as his performances have warranted that. But we feel he is one of the players we want to build a future with.”

“We have been quite positive in terms of early discussions and hopefully they will continue. I don’t know who has leaked a story or spoken about him. All I know is that when we get to January, he’ll still be under contract as one of our players. Anything with the rumour mill is false.”

Boro boss Michael Carrick is said to be an admirer of Barlaser and, due to his contract situation, it was hoped that the midfielder would be let go in January for a knockdown price.

From Taylor’s comments, though, it seems he won’t be allowed to leave without a fight. Barlaser has been an influential figure for a Rotherham side who were favourites to be relegated back to League One at the start of the season. The Millers currently find themselves sixteenth in the Championship table.