Posted by: @original-fat-bob

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Fabrizio Romano signing from Plymouth for £6:5 m

OFB

Was that supposed to be referring to Morgan Whitaker Bob? I hope so, but the last I saw was that Burnley had tabled an offer for him.

I was greatly impressed by Morgan Whittaker when Plymouth played us off the park last season at the Riverside, so I was surprised in talking to a Plymouth supporter to learn that their fans are fed up with him, seeing him as someone who plays for himself, and only when he wants to.

This was confirmed by a game I saw earlier this season when the player just did not seem interested.

It was further confirmed tonight when he refused to play against Burnley, though he had been selected to play.

It's not a good look, and doesn't speak well about the player's loyalty.

Boro's apparent offer of £5m is well short of Plymouth's evaluation, but I don't see Boro going to the £10m that Plymouth are demanding.

Boro are looking for a bargain, Plymouth need to maximise the player's value, so I suspect this is far from being a done deal.

I could be wrong, but there are quite a few question marks around this possible deal for me.

@lenmasterman.  I agree Len that if there are question marks over an individual’s character then irrespective of ability you shouldn’t be looking to recruit.

MC has previously been at pains to point out how much work the club does to ensure that prospective recruits are of good character and that they will fit into the existing group dynamic.

It sounds like this might be one to stay clear of as we have had enough problem players in the past, Ramirez and Yakubu as examples. 😎

@k-p-in-spain Can I throw Emerson into the mix of difficult players? He was a genius when he was up for though. 

@martin-bellamy. Yes forgotten about his shenanigans until your reminder. 😎

Craig Johns reports that Whittaker was "left out" of the Plymouth squad, and that " he was meant to be in the Plymouth side but it's not exactly clear why he wasn't".

In fact it's abundantly clear that the lad was in the team but did not turn up, effectively refusing to play. He wasn't left out, and it's clear why he wasn't in the team

This suggests to me that the lad might well be on his way and that a major media whitewash operation has already begun.

@lenmasterman perhaps he has decided he wants to join, or will be joining, Burnley and he was encouraged to miss playing against his (nearly) new team mates...

The Craig Johns' article has been re-edited and now reads that Whittaker "did not show up" for the Burnley game as opposed to the original statement that he was 'left out".

Does the Gazette man have access to this blog? None of the below the line comments on his article mentioned his distortion of the evident fact

PS Apologies, "left out" is still there in the articles sub-heading

RYAN Giles is closing in on a Middlesbrough return, with the defender having been on Teesside today to undergo his medical

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@original-fat-bob. MFC now confirm he joins on loan until end of season with option to buy.

Not believed to be covering all his wages. 😎

@k-p-in-spain I'm happier with that as a loan deal.... gives Giles the chance to prove he will deliver for us before we commit.

I’ve just seen a comment elsewhere, in reply to someone who said he couldn’t defend. The reply was along the lines of, “neither can the current options, but at least he can attack!”

I'm happy that we're getting Ryan Giles back, at least till the end of the season. 

I may be wrong but I seem to remember that the majority of his assists whilst with us were before the last International break and that he didn’t provide much during the season run in or the play offs; he is as good as any of them at receiving the ball out wide and then passing it back behind him.

At least it’s a loan, the jury is still out for me. 😎

Akpom to,Sunderland ?

Apparently Sunderland offered 12 m for him

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Micah Hamilton has joined League One side Stockport County on loan until the end of the season.

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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

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Micah Hamilton has joined League One side Stockport County on loan until the end of the season.

OFB

Posted by: @original-fat-bob

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Akpom to,Sunderland ?

 

Apparently Sunderland offered 12 m for him

 

OFB 

Not as prolific as when MC had him firing on cylinders for us. If he is available, it would be a good way to spend the ELL money....

@powmillnaemore. Perhaps that is the grand plan, Giles to cross Akpom to score but does lightening ever strike twice? 🤔😎

Interesting news on the transfer front, today.

Now we have four (4) left backs at Boro. Of course, Bangura is injured long term, but both Borges and Engel are both fit now. Will we see the Danish player leaving, or what?

Regarding Hamilton, it is interesting to note, that we have sold Jones and now loaned out ANOTHER right winger. Does sound like we are to sign a right winger next. We have made a bid for Plymouth right winger Morgan Whittaker - and some sources say Boro is the more likely destination over Burnley.

I only hope we can keep hold of Latte Lath - then the window would be a success. But plenty of more action happening during the transfer window,  me thinks. Let's hope we will be able to improve the squad rather than get weaker.

Up the Boro! 

Understand Middlesbrough have now agreed a deal with Ipswich Town to sign defender George Edmundson on a permanent basis. (Pete O’Rourke - Football Insider)

Quite a lot of action and I'm impressed by most of the steps being taken by the recruitment team 

JONES             Hasn't really delivered since his one good season. He's certainly a hard worker and a decent guy and I really hope that he has got over his personal issues but I'm sure that we can either replace him with someone just as good and cheaper or buy someone better. We have Doak until the end of the season but then we will need a replacement and going after Whittaker, seems like a solid pre-emptive move. The only real danger is overpaying but there are others out there.

GILES              What do you do when the manager really wants a particular player but we're all not sure if he can deliver? Get him on loan with the chance to buy. We can test him out, he can show us what he is worth and everyone's happy. Sounds like a very solid piece of dealmaking. Personally, I'm very much in the camp that wants to see have at least one person in the team who knows how to cross a ball. Borges has been getting a bit better but Giles was lethal. The only sad aspect is that we might no longer have ELL to take advantage of them.

HAMILTON        Everyone seems convinced that there is a good player somewhere in there but he hasn't come through yet. Nobody wants to dump him so the obvious answer is to find a good place where he can learn his trade away from the insane pressure of the Championship.

SILVERA           Maybe he isn't going to work out but there's no downside in sending him off to Blackpool and re-assessing at the end of the season.

HEMMING         Didn't work out at Orient so send him back to a former success where, hopefully, he can regain his confidence.

EDMUNDSON    A solid centre half with two to three good years left. What's not to like about locking him in for a very low fee.  

JOHNSON         Sounds as if we have stolen a real prospect from under the noses of a number of EPL and Championship sides. It speaks volumes for the reputation of our Academy that the lad would choose to join Boro and hats off to the Academy recruitment team who have such good links to southern non-league teams. 

Other targets (if we are to believe the planted leaks through the Gazette)

TRAVERS          A solid keeper who could certainly do a job

KAMARA           Top class central midfielder who could certainly provide cover for Morris. Only issue is likely to be cost. Can we really afford him as, potentially, only a squad player.

Finally, hats off again to whoever sorted out the Morris deal. He single-handedly transformed the side against West Brom, freeing up Hackney to play further forward. A real star and the main issue will be hanging on to him in the summer.

UTB

@selwynoz good summary Selwyn , giving a very balanced review of our transfer activity so far this month.

A lot will depend on whether the ELL chatter is accurate or not. Allowing the belief that a deal is agreed with Atalanta is already agreed to go unchallenged could be a smokescreen to deflect unwanted domestic attention. Or maybe that is just my wishful thinking. If he is to leave us, we certainly need someone of proven quality to replace him if any of the other sums you have covered are going to add up.

@selwynoz Excellent summary in there. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I fully agree. I think the club is in better hands than for a long time . The transfer policy makes sence.

The only question mark in this January window is the number of squad numbers left for the Championship. We have too many left backs at the moment. But there must be a plan in place ...

Up the Boro! 

"Micah is a player who was in demand this summer from a number of Championship clubs and it was no surprise to see Middlesbrough, who sign particularly well, invest in him."

Middlesbrough handed major boost in pursuit of Burnley and Hull City-linked winger as £6m bid 'accepted'

Published 24th Jan 2025, 10:45 GMT

Middlesbrough have reportedly had a bid for Plymouth Argyle talisman Morgan Whittaker accepted. Speculation regarding the 24-year-old has been rife of late, with Middlesbrough, Hull City and Burnley all credited with interest.

The above is from Yorkshire Post, other papers reporting the same. He might.be an upgrade on Jones as Whittaker can score goals, too.

Up the Boro!

Ipswich Town have agreed a deal with Middlesbrough for the sale of defender George Edmundson.

What's interesting is that the Gazette are reporting the Whittaker deal (£6m + £2m add-ons) is separate to the sale of Latte Lath and if he is sold then Boro will look to bring in another centre-forward. Then presumably Whitaker is seen as a Jones replacement, which at the time I recall Carrick saying they will probably replace Jones with a different type of player - apparently Whittaker is left-footed so it would look like he is more of a replacement for Hamilton who was supposed to take on that role.

So, I'd expect to see an attacking three behind the striker of Whittaker - Azaz - Doak with what now looks like a more attacking left-back in Giles.

@werdermouth 

We should probably view Whittaker as a long-term Doak replacement. He’s 24 and can only get better over the next couple of years. 

I reckon that Steve Gibson has decided that he is able to finance the extra Whittaker purchase against the Jones fee and still stay within the limits. What a man.

UTB