Doughty was a key figure for Edwards during his time in charge of the Hatters and is a player Boro and their recruitment team have long admired. Enquiries have been made in the past, long before Edwards’ appointment as Middlesbrough’s head coach.
But the 25-year-old only signed a new contract at Kenilworth Road 12 months ago and, despite their relegation to League One, it’s understood Luton’s asking price would be high.
Doughty’s situation is one Boro will continue to keep tabs on, but the recruitment team will prioritise pressing on with efforts to strengthen in several other areas.
Boro’s starting point this summer is the addition of a central defender, a right wing-back, a central midfielder, a wide forward and a striker.
On the right side of the defence, Anfernee Dijksteel’s exit leaves Luke Ayling, who had a difficult and injury-disrupted season last term, and the inexperienced Josh Dede as the only options for Edwards, and Boro will look to bring in a specialist right wing-back.
Aston Villa’s Kaine Kesler-Hayden was one player who was identified as a potential target, but he is set to sign for Coventry City. Boro identified several other options and will move on to other targets.
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Boro will look to strengthen in central defence and central midfield regardless of what happens with Rav van den Berg and Hayden Hackney, who have both been linked with Crystal Palace today.
The capture of a centre-forward is an obvious priority after Emmanuel Latte Lath’s January exit. Kelechi Iheanacho’s loan spell in the second half of last season didn’t go to plan and Boro last week sanctioned the permanent exit of Josh Coburn to Millwall in a deal worth more than £5m.
Left wing-back is one area Boro will then potentially look at once they’ve ticked their priority boxes this summer.
If, as expected, Edwards plays a back three and wing-backs at Boro, the new head coach has a decision to make on Neto Borges. After a difficult start last season, Borges established himself as a key figure for Boro on and off the pitch, but looked as comfortable playing at centre-half, when he was moved inside to deal with an injury crisis, as he did at left-back.
Edwards must now decide whether he sees the Brazilian as a left sided central defender or a wing-back. The new head coach also has the fit-again Alex Bangura as a left wing-back option. Bangura has reported back for pre-season after missing all of last term with a serious Achilles injury suffered 12 months ago.
George McCormick, who broke into the first team set-up last summer, is another left sided defender who’ll be hoping to impress Edwards.
Boro’s players were back at Rockliffe on Monday for the first official day of pre-season. Several players reported back at the end of last week for testing, but they were joined on Monday by internationals such as Tommy Conway and Riley McGree, as well as Alex Gilbert, who was given an extended break after featuring for Charlton in the League One play-offs.
McGree is hoping to put last season’s injury frustration behind him and is now back fully fit.
After reporting back to Rockliffe, the Australia international said in a video on the club’s social media pages: “I’m ready to be back and to get back into it, for sure.”
Boro’s first domestic pre-season friendly is currently scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, when Edwards’ side will travel to take on League One side Bradford City.
