As the warm weather conditioning starts to peak for the Boro faithful on Teesside, the players are now busy raising their fitness levels in the slightly cooler climes of the Algave. Though with just four weeks until the big kick-off, the heat is well and truly on as Rob Edwards assesses which of his squad members are actually fit for purpose.
Much like a Sunday stroll along Redcar beach without sunscreen, the summer transfer window has so far proved to be a slow burner. It feels like we're waiting for something to happen as speculation on possible arrivals is just that and a number of key Boro players continue to have another suitor added on a daily basis.
The list of clubs not interested in Hayden Hackney now appears shorter than those who are - indeed, with reports FC Porto are once again keen, bumping into a representative with a cheque book in Portugal must be only a matter of time. With Rav van den Berg also designated a wanted man, some amateur body-language observers were commenting that he had the look of a man who was already elsewhere in the club's released training videos.
Talking of vacant stares, the Boro recruitment appear hesitant as they peruse the available low-budget options in order to add arguably quality to the squad. Should they continue to browse in Lidl (other German discount stores are available) or should they take a taxi to Waitrose as they anticipate having a budget north of £30m if offers firm up on said saleable assets?
Which incidentally doesn't even include the unspent Latte Lath stash (surely iheanacho wages left some change) or that potential Morgan Rogers bonus we keep reading about! All those wads are now potentially almost edging towards a full parachute payment instead of relying on the usual soft mattress stuffed with fivers to cushion the fallout!
You could certainly do a lot of damage with a windfall of that magnitude - or conversely blow a lot of money on overpriced average players in homage to Garry Monk. However, attracting top Championship players may at some point require some kind of statement of intent and a belief that Middlesbrough are a club going places. Rob Edwards may ooze positivity and enthusiasm but he's not got the pulling power of a monotone Bryan Robson in that respect. Alas those days are long gone but it would be nice if Boro could bring in a few players who are already good to go and are not just moneyball projects who may or may not succeed.
The table below shows the current squad with several academy players (shown in green) who have been taken to Portugal by Rob Edwards. Those returning from loan spells are shown in blue, with Coburn and Howson displayed in red after being sold and out of contract respectively. Players entering their last year of the contract are shown in bold. At present, Dieng is not fully recovered from his injury and Josh Dede has had an operation on his toe so will be out for a while. Position labels are self explanatory, though in case anyone was wondering, AM is Attacking Midfielder.
| Player (age) | Position | 2024/25 games |
Contract expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seny Dieng (30) | GK | 17 | 2027 |
| Tom Glover (27) | GK | 8 | 2026 |
| Sol Brynn (24) | GK | 8 | 2028 |
| Shea Connor (19) | GK | 2027 | |
| Rav van den Berg (21) | CB | 27 | 2027 |
| Dael Fry (27) | CB | 21 | 2026 |
| Darragh Lenihan (31) | CB | 2026 | |
| George Edmundson (27) | CB | 24 | 2027 |
| Neto Borges (28) | LB/CB | 35 | 2027 |
| Alex Bangura (25) | LB | 2027 | |
| George McCormick (20) | LB | 1 | 2027 |
| Luke Ayling (33) | RB/CB | 26 | 2026 |
| Josh Dede (19) | RB | ||
| Hayden Hackney (23) | M | 43 | 2027 |
| Dan Barlaser (28) | M | 23 | 2026 |
| Aidan Morris (23) | M | 35 | 2028 |
| Jonny Howson (37) | M/CB | 21 | 2025 |
| Law McCabe (19) | M | 2027 | |
| Luke Woolston (20) | M | 2027 | |
| Brayden Johnson (19) | M | ||
| Riley McGree (26) | AM | 17 | 2028 |
| Finn Azaz (24) | AM | 45 | 2028 |
| Alex Gilbert (23) | AM | 7 | 2027 |
| Micah Hamilton (21) | AM | 13 | 2028 |
| Sam Silvera (24) | AM | 2026 | |
| Morgan Whittaker (24) | AM | 16 | 2029 |
| Tommy Conway (22) | F | 36 | 2028 |
| Marcus Forss (26) | F | 24 | 2026 |
| Sonny Finch (19) | F | 2026 | |
| Delano Burgzorg (26) | F | 42 | 2028 |
| Josh Coburn (22) | F | 2 | SOLD |
The Boro squad appears to have quite a few gaps that are currently being covered with unproven potential or in some cases already proven to be unreliable or not up to the task. Boro have limited options if wing-backs were deployed and central defence lacks the recovery pace for a high line. In midfield, Jonny Howson has disappeared without trace with no news on a contract extension - plus with Hackney looking likely to leave and with Barlaser being practically out the door in January, then it's potentially looking very light.
As for the attack, clearly Boro need a main striker but there are seemingly lots of options that may or may not fit into the style Edwards prefers to play. Burgzorg and Whittaker don't look like obvious players who would fit the profile but they are contracted until 2028 and 2029 respectively.
Despite some recent high-profile sales and potential coming ones, the Boro recruitment since Keiran Scott was employed has not on the whole been successful. The Northern Echo produced an article of the 30 permanent signings made during Scott's tenure and rated their success. Arguably at least two-thirds of those signed have failed to make a lasting impact and several of those who did have suffered prolonged spells on the sideline through injury.
Perhaps this is the nature of the level of signings Boro are generally chasing - most are gambles who will not make the grade or prove inconsistent and this is often masked by the few high-profile ones who end up getting sold for big money - several of which probably owed more to the coaching and man-management of Michael Carrick who worked out how to get the best from them.
So another transfer window has begun and as yet nothing has really happened - seven players are entering the last year of their contracts and may be moved on - three have returned from unsuccessful loans and it may be decided they are not at the required level - plus seven academy prospects have been brought into the squad to assess if they can make the step up.
Add to that the possibility of losing Hackney, Rav or Azaz - then that is 20 players from the list of 30 who have an uncertain future at the club. Just how many coming and goings there will be remains to be seen but I suspect it will be a busy couple of months for Rob Edwards and the recruitment team!
Werdermouth,
A fine headline piece and sadly it's all very true and I have a sneaking feeling that some of the shine has been wiped off Boro in terms of the club's attraction value. I think young Josh is well out of it add to that the news about Howson and Boro may not be as attractive as they were. I hope Mr Gibson is not regretting some appointments, let's just see what the puppet master comes up with from his recruitment team, and I'm talking about purchases not more sales. Oh, and please no panic purchases as the window shuts.
Keep well everyone, now back to Lords.
UTB,
John
Boro lost the behind closed doors friendly against CD Santa Clara 0-1.
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/12/boro-in-portugal--training-game/
Come on BORO.
Werdermouth, thanks for the work done in producing Boro’s squad,
What strikes me is the lack of enough quality players. I wouldn’t be unhappy if a dozen or so of those who have played no games or very few including probably all those who were out on loan were allowed to leave. Trouble is who would want them ? Possibly division 1 or 2 and non league - yes, some of them are that bad.
philip of Huddersfield 🤔🤔
Thanks for that interesting opener, Werder. How refreshing to read something about the Boro that is original, topical, literate, intelligent and relevant after all of the third-hand dross served up by the local media over the past couple of months. Incidentally I couldn't access the Echo piece unless I took out a subscription. That was a temptation I was able to resist.
Given the enormous challenges facing the Boro within the next few weeks it's difficult to be positive about the apparent current stasis at the club. What i do know is that the likes of Silvera, Hamilton and half a dozen others who are being assessed by the new boss are unlikely to be part of the solution
Thanks Len - with regard to the Echo piece I'm able to read articles without subscribing by using the browser's Reader View, which loads the text without all the formatting. Most browsers have that facility if you know what you're looking for but if you're not familiar with such matters then it might be difficult to explain easily.
Sometimes deleting cookies from the echo will reset your access to free - though that's something else you need to know about.
It was actually quite a balanced critique of the 30 players with more than half not getting a pass.
Werder, That was a great Headliner, to keep us going through this period of inactivity.
Well I should say, inactivity for MFC.
There has been quite some movementfrom other Championship clubs, starting to get their ducks in a row early.
I still find it difficult to understand Mr Gibson’s thinking on Rob Edwards’ appointment. Putting to one side his ability, which hopefully will be very good, it will have to be, and he will need a large slice of luck.
However given Carrick’s system and players purchased to suit, MFC then decide to do a complete turn about and hire a Coach, who prefers the complete opposite to him.
Again, we all know that we are likely to lose two, maybe three of our better players, the biggest loss being Hackney. VDB, should be replaceable with a ready to go CB at around 5 mil. Azaz, I am not sure about his suitability for RE, if he uses his preferred set up, as we think he may in the longer term.
When you look at wereder’s chart of squad players, it really hits home how short we were for Carrick’s way, and worse if RE was to go, like Amorim, with his chosen way.
Maybe in the short term he will be more pragmatic.
The truth is in reality we are a standard Championship club, trying to punch above our weight, by employing a Coach that can make the sum greater than the parts. Carrick give it a good go in season one, then for different reasons, not all down to him, he ultimately failed, as did the recruitment.
Can we really in all honesty, see anything changing this season, with all the changes in players and system, unless Mr Gibson reinvests a large part of the sale receipts and Scott and Jones come up trumps.
I won’t comment on some of the internet rumours and possible linked players to date. Journeymen at best.
Very little information has come out about the Boro recently, but the problem I have is that the bits and pieces that have been revealed appear to make so little sense.
it is already a commonplace that the appointment of Rob Edwards represents less a consistent thread of continuity from the approach of previous seasons than a complete volte face, thus endowing the new boss with a squad completely unfit for his purposes.
You can go through almost the entire squad and discern some admirable qualities, but scrapping, tackling, chasing back and employing the long ball are conspicuous by their absence.
And today the Gazette's non-story is that Viveash believes Edwards to be a good human being. There is ample evidence of that in his support of Tom Lockyer at Luton, but what doesn't quite make sense to me is that Viveash's reputation is based upon the fine job he did at Coventry, where he implemented Robbins' philosophy of playing neat controlled passing football.
In other words, his appointment appears to be at odds with everything Edwards has said about the way that he wants the new Boro to play.
If you want a clue about what might be in store for us next season then it may be worth reflecting on the fact that around half of Luton's results last season were binary scores. That is, most of their games ended up with a 0-0,1-0,0-1 or 1-1 scoreline.
I'm afraid that I can find little comfort in the fact that the last manger we had with such a results profile was Tony Pulis. Even less in our most recent pre-season defeat. By 0-1 as it happens. And less still by what appears to be the lack of a controlling intelligence guiding the club's policies
Thanks, Werder, for that list of players, their ages, games played last term and the expiration of their contracts. We can look down the list to see whether or not we are likely to be inspired for the coming season. Unless there is some surprisingly successful movement on the transfer front, or unless the new coaching team can polish up some unrecognised diamonds from the coals loitering in the bottom of the scuttle, the chances of a successful season ahead for Boro seems about as likely as finding a delicately written and uplifting comedy plotline in a script for "Eastenders".
Does anyone on here expect Boro to finish the next season higher in the table than, say, Birmingham City? Is anyone on the edge of their seat, holding their breath in excited expectation of a promotion charge in 2025/26? Thrilling performances? Good football in many games but also examples of gritty backs-to-the-wall defence and also 100% commitment from the midfiled warriors throughout the months to come?
Obvioulsy we have to be realistic. Boro cannot expect to compete with the money available to the parachute community nor the clubs with very wealthy backers. We have to hope that the money that surely must be available as "add-ons" from the sale of Morgan Rogers and the balance from the sale of Latte Lath, added to the substantial sale-price of Hayden Hackney and Fin Azaz (which most of us expect to be announced this summer) will be well-spent. No more fur-coated diamond-encrusted Iheanachos, please: they're not suited suited to the mud and guts of a Championship campaign.
I think Boro will have to be very lucky indeed to unearth some nuggets for this coming season. Hopefully the new coaching set-up will improve and enthuse the players available. Maybe things will be better. I WANT to believe. Maybe the odd message of hope from the club would help those who want to keep the faith?
That's it exactly, Dormo. We all want to believe, but where is the solid evidence coming from the club to substantiate that faith? All we have been offered so far is fond hopes ('I want our supporters to clap us off the field at the end of the match"), and bland generalisations about the way we would like to play ('As far away from our goal as possible") that will offer threadbare comfort come our first poor performance.
Take out Hackney and Azaz (like him or not, for effort) and the squad looks more akin to a team that will struggle for mid table.
There are not enough for a better season than last, if Carrick had stayed.
Not knowing how RE will play, and whether that could ultimately cause frustration and friction between the coaching staff when the football does not meet with the Riverside’s expectations, I just do not see any reason to be upbeat on the season ahead.
Scott’s reputation is underpinned, only by the purchase's of, Rodgers and LL, along with the expected sales of VDB and probably Azaz. Big money turnovers.
However, when you look at the Echo’s take on his 30 buys, in reality he has not been that successful, if you base them on the overall quality and delivery in the Championship itself.
January was a disaster, and he probably side stepped most of the blame for that, by letting Carrick carry the can.
Given that there maybe some truth in the rumours of players being sourced, then Lens paragraph
“You can go through almost the entire squad and discern some admirable qualities, but scrapping, tackling, chasing back and employing the long ball are conspicuous by their absence”
spells out the likely calibre of incoming players into MFC. Skill will not be required.
Starting to feel it
Seen a couple of interviews with Edward's regarding Luton , he did admit what Nathan Jones did before he arrived,
I liked he said he needs good people around him for input and advice, I think Carrick cut his other coaches out, someone said in one game Leadbitter was the only one off the bench screaming at players
Something else , question? All this intricate formations so called , what is wrong with 442 , if you have athletic players who can play both sides of the ball, going forward two wide men , mobile strikers , midfield who see the field and accurate passes for me in a lot of games can be successful.
Chelsea shock PSG by winning the Club World Cup 3-0 and earn £100m, meanwhile England thrash Wales 6-1 and go through to face Sweden in the quarterfinals of the Women’s European Championship.
Come on BORO.
Chelsea looked very good to completely overpower a PSG team which has looked unbeatable this year. The extra £90M-£100M prize money, added to what they got for finishing so high (4th, with late run) in last season's Premier League, and the money earned by winning the Europa League, will all go into the pot to offset any PSR (or whichever initials apply this season when discusssing financial sustainabilty) concerns the club might have had. Of course the Premier League is a cash cow on its own, and entry to the Champions League next season will oil the financial wheels. Presumably by becoming the inuagural winners of the competition, Chelsea will get guaranteed entry to the next edition of the World Club Championship in 2029 so as to have the chance to defend the club's title?
Football for some is a never-ending licence to print money. So different to the sport watched by Hartlepool United or Boro supporters!
Danny Ings yer jokin aren't yer
Further to Paul’s outburst:
Boro exploring Ings deal
Latest from Sky Sports News' Mark McAdam & Keith Downie:
Middlesbrough are exploring a possible deal to sign Danny Ings.
The former Liverpool man, who has scored 72 Premier League goals in 240 appearances, is available on a free, having left West Ham this summer.
Talks are at an early stage, although Middlesbrough are one of several Championship clubs that have looked at signing the player.
Ings had opportunities to move abroad in January but opted to stay in the Premier League.
Has Mr Gibson gone doolally or something. An overrated, much travelled player.
In the last two seasons with West Ham he has scored FOUR goals in 52 appearances, earning around 14 million pounds.
Why would he come to MFC? Why would we want a 32 year old who is 33 in a couple of weeks.
Are we going to blow a pile of money on a player at the end of his career. Did we not learn from January’s disastrous loan of Iheanacho.
I just hope that this is a joke.
Blimey, it’s even in the Northern Echo.
His record was even worse than that - it was 4 goals in the last 3 seasons not 2!
There was a Danny Ings who would’ve excited me as a signing but that about 6 years ago.
A very odd signing - I know I wanted Boro to sign someone who wasn’t a project but a 33 year old who has only the equivalent of 24 full games pitch time in the last four seasons doesn’t shout reliable centre forward - puzzling choice and maybe an indication of the style Edwards wants to play with a strongman to hold the ball up top?
I arrived on Teesside yesterday for a family visit and as usual everyone thanked me for bringing rain 😏
Thanks for the comments on the opener and thought I’d post something of a prelude to expected transfer activity before we reached the troublesome page 11 on the previous thread…
I don’t really buy the Danny Ings rumour to be honest. Nothing about fits the profile of Boro’s recruitment over recent seasons.
He was once a very good forward in the Sheringham sort of mould: not quick or powerful but clever, technically very good and composed. However, he’s barely been able to stay fit for a long time now.
We don’t sign players without potential sell-on value these days, don’t particularly need another striker of his profile - it’s a no. 9 type we’re lacking - and his injury record flies against one of the problems for which Carrick was blamed.
Add in that he’d need to take a very substantial wage cut to fit Boro’s structure and I just can’t see any legs in it whatsoever.
I can understand why Len gets frustrated with the Gazette. This morning’s lead “Boro” story by their Football Content Editor, Stuart Jamieson. Never heard of him, has he replaced Craig Johns?
Hull’s, Ryan Giles. Then there is an article about Mark Travers going to Everton. Are Boro fans really interested?
However, no breaking news or exclusive from the Gazette about Danny Ings.
Football content editor for Chronicle Live, Sunderland Live, Gazette Live, Leeds Live, Yorkshire Live and Hull Live. A North East native, he has been working in sports journalism since 1995. Stuart has worked on the Sunday Sun, Chronicle and the Journal since move from the Gateshead Post in 1999.
So there’s your answer he writes for everyone about everything!
OFB
It is still the 'Silly Season' isn't it? Why sign an injury prone 'older' player when you have plenty of your own? As for the Gazette it should come with a stupid warning.
Can we see some progress please Mr Gibson because Boro seem to be sliding backwards in terms of communication and credibility or are the recruitment team going to stun us with their clandestine work below the radar? Alright, I thought not, just living in hope.
When does the next Test start?
UTB,
John
Danny Ings -“ you cannot be serious “
I’ve come to the conclusion that we will not see players coming in until the likes of Hackney and Van der Berg are sold and the club know how much cash it has. Unfortunately , to get the best price for the players leaving you are best leaving it late . Equally we then miss players we want as they are snapped up by other clubs.
So I suppose we need to be patient and keep our fingers crossed that we’ll get a few decent players.
philip of Huddersfield 🤔🤔
As anaside what a terrific test match, who said cricket is boring !!
I’ve been hearing noises from some sources working within the club that Steve Gibson may be less willing to put his own money into MFC to cover losses - his choice of course but it may mean some income from player sales will be covering other costs and not fully reinvested - so let’s see how this window pans out.
It could mean we’ll see more academy prospects breaking through and to be honest there’s no reason why given a run in the team they wouldn’t fair any worse than players brought in as projects.
What that means in terms of expectations for this season will likely depend on how quickly Edwards gets a team gelled together and whether Boro have enough quality players.
@werdermouth. “I’ve been hearing noises from some sources working within the club that Steve Gibson may be less willing to put his own money into MFC to cover losses”
I think that is correct. I thought that following the profitable sale of LL the EG said that not all of the funds would be used for player dealing; the new business model is supposedly designed in the long run to make the club self sustaining.
I am at a loss, however, to understand how the signing of DI fits into the model.
My general malaise with all things at MFC continues to linger. 😎
I think Boro are being cagey , if they sell right now , clubs will know they've got money to spend, and they will add a bigger asking price for any of their players we might be interested in.
You can normally strike a deal at the end , when clubs sort their squads out , especially in the Premiership. Doak came in late last year .
I'm hoping the squad we've got just needs aj little tweaks , and with better coaching and a better attitude, we might make top six, it's gonna be tougher than last season.
Craig Johns is back after a 10-day holiday. Up the Boro,Football content editor for Chronicle Live, Sunderland Live, Gazette Live, Leeds Live, Yorkshire Live and Hull Live. A North East native, he has been working in sports journalism since 1995. Stuart has worked on the Sunday Sun, Chronicle and the Journal since move from the Gateshead Post in 1999.
So there’s your answer he writes for everyone about everything!
OFB
This morning, Sky Sports News have reported that Boro are in talks to sign right back Callum Britain from Blackburn.
Come on BORO.