West Ham United Football Club are favourites to land Matthew Bates this summer.

The versatile Middlesbrough player is out of contract next month, and following relegation from the Premier League, he is set to quit the Riverside Stadium.

Bates feels that, after missing much football through knee injuries, he needs to push on in the top-flight, and the Hammers are leading Everton and Sunderland for his signature.

"I don't know (whether I'll not be playing Premier League football). Maybe I will be playing in it (Premier League). There are decisions to be made," said the 22-year-old.

"I'm a professional footballer and I've missed a lot of football. The last thing I really want to do is play in the Championship. I want to play Premier League football and progress in my career.

"There's a big decision to be made and I'll have to sit down in the next few weeks and make that decision. I have a lot of thinking to do and big decisions to make.”

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