None of last season’s loanees are expected to return to Boro this summer, but plans are in place to strengthen the squad in various departments.
Here’s how things look at the start of the window:
INS
The transfer window may well be opening this weekend but there isn’t much action expected in this early period of trading.
The window has only been extended to give the clubs who are playing in the Club World Cup the chance to do some business ahead of kick-off in the USA in the middle of June.
But in reality most players are still away on their end of season holidays and transfer activity won’t really kick into action until the ‘main’ window opens on Monday, June 16.
That’s especially expected to be the case for EFL clubs and Middlesbrough aren’t anticipating any business ahead of the first deadline on Tuesday, June 10.
That’s not to say they’re not prepared for this summer’s window.
Boro have five priorities this summer and top targets have been identified for each.
Club bosses have been conducting an end of season review in recent weeks as they look to get to the bottom of the disappointing 10th place finish.
But the outcome of that review won’t have any impact on the targets that have been identified by the club’s recruitment team.
The starting point in what looks set to be a busy window for Boro is a right-back, centre-half, centre-midfielder, right sided attacker and centre-forward.
Anfernee Dijksteel’s exit leaves Luke Ayling as the club’s only senior right-back, but the former Leeds man struggled for form and fitness last season. Boro aren’t short of centre-backs but Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry, George Edmundson and Darragh Lenihan all endured injury struggles last season and Carrick’s decision to not replace Matt Clarke in January backfired. Boro won’t risk leaving themselves short again.
Regardless of what happens with Jonny Howson, Boro have identified the need for some extra steel in midfield. The January pursuit of Glen Kamara offers an indication of the type of player Boro feel they need in the middle of the park.
Boro have high hopes for January recruit Morgan Whittaker, who is at home on the right side of the attack but can play anywhere across the forward line. Marcus Forss is the only other natural right sided attacker in the squad but has struggled for consistency over the past couple of seasons.
And strengthening up-front is an obvious must on the back of Emmanuel Latte Lath’s January exit. The loan signing of Kelechi Iheanacho didn’t work out but that was only ever going to be a short-term fix and Boro have permanent targets in place for this summer.
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OUTS
There are three high-profile players who will be the subject of inevitable transfer speculation this summer, but what happens with the trio is unclear at this stage.
Hayden Hackney is admired by a number of clubs in the Premier League and on the continent and after Porto’s failed efforts to sign the midfielder in January, more bids are almost certain to land in the months ahead.
But, after Latte Lath’s big money exit, Boro’s hand won’t be forced this summer and stars will only leave if bids tabled are simply too good to turn down.
Hackney is undoubtedly worth as much if not more than Jobe Bellingham, who looks likely to leave Sunderland for what could be around £25m this summer. Hackney remains settled and happy at Boro and has told of his dream of winning promotion with his hometown club, so the England Under-21 midfielder certainly won’t be agitating for an exit.
Rav van den Berg has been on the radar of several of Europe’s biggest clubs over the course of the last couple of years, and Premier League clubs have also watched the Dutch defender.
But the 20-year-old didn’t impress as much last season as he did in his first on Teesside. Whether that will sway clubs who’ve watched the youngster is not yet known. Will they have a crack at signing the Dutchman because of the potential and quality on display in his first campaign in the Championship? Or will they wait and watch closely next season?
Finn Azaz has this week been linked with Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. Speculation and/or interest comes as no surprise given the impressive numbers he racked up last season.
But the 24-year-old signed a four-and-a-half year contract when he joined in January last year so Boro are under no pressure with the Ireland international. It would take an extremely significant offer to bring Boro to the table.
And, as we’ve seen with the Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers deals, any high profile exits will be structured so Boro don’t just make a huge instant profit but cover themselves so they continue to benefit down the line.
CONTRACTS
Howson’s future remains uncertain as things stand, with Boro saying “discussions will take place in due course” with the captain when the club released the retained list earlier this month.
That will almost certainly be resolved one way or the other in the coming weeks.
Dael Fry, Marcus Forss, Dan Barlaser, Darragh Lenihan, Tom Glover, Luke Ayling and Sonny Finch are all entering the final 12 months of their deals.
