Middlesbrough have highly sought-after Peterborough youngster Nicky Gyimah-Bio on trial.
The versatile forward played for Boro's under-23s on Monday morning as they beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0 in their first Premier League Cup game of the new campaign.
Gyimah-Bio, 18, was most recently part of Peterborough United's academy, though his status with the club is unknown.
Middlesbrough have been in contact with free agent, Robbie Brady, as Neil Warnock looks to bolster his options on the left.
It’s been a tricky start to the Championship season for Boro. At this early stage, the Teessiders sit 16th and have won only two of their opening eight fixtures. On Saturday, they were beaten at the Riverside Stadium by Blackpool.
Warnock was allowed to reshape his squad over the entire course of the summer transfer window, yet it appears that he wants more.
Contact has already been made with the 29-year-old, although Middlesbrough will face competition to sign the Irishman from Celtic, who are also interested.
Brady is a free agent having left Burnley earlier in 2021. He made 87 appearances during a four-and-a-half year stint at Turf Moor, having made a £13m switch from Norwich City.
The winger’s career started with Manchester United, before loans and an eventual permanent move to Hull City.
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If Boro want to add even more to their team….
Some interesting names
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Twitter rumour Jack Butland on loan from Palace in January
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Jack Butland is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Crystal Palace and the England national team. Butland began his career with Birmingham City, and made his debut in the Football League in September 2011 while on loan to League Two club Cheltenham Town
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🚨 Aaron Connolly has unfollowed Brighton and followed Middlesbrough on his Instagram account.
Looks like he’s on his way out and maybe not just on loan…
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🚨 Aaron Connolly has unfollowed Brighton and followed Middlesbrough on his Instagram account.
Looks like he’s on his way out and maybe not just on loan…
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Do we have a view of Connolly. Would he be a good acquisition?
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@selwynoz I know he is a very talented boy but some say he needs to grow up and has had some broblems in his private life, though. https://www.wearebrighton.com/newsopinion/time-is-now-for-aaron-connolly-to-grow-up/
But I trust in Wilder if we go for him. Up the Boro!
Sounds a bit like George Best.
Minus the good looks
And the stellar footballing skills.
Just a lost young Irish lad, far from home, on a million quid a year, and mired in a world of social media and tabloid headlines.
Looks like Brighton may just want to cut their losses on his 4 year contract and get rid.
Their fans are scathing with lots of comments about him scoring more off the field than on it and bidding him good riddance.
I wonder if this is primarily Wilder's choice or Scott's.
Not that I'd want to pre-judge the lad...
To be fair...
@jarrko
Not the sort of player for Boro. Will probably spend his free time hitting the night life at Newcastle. Not a prolific goalscorer either, could even disrupt the camaraderie of the team.
So we strengthen our goalkeeping squad by using our own resources.
https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-middlesbrough-set-to-recall-brynn-from-loan-deal/
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@jarkko Having read the article, I hope he comes on loan and not as a signing. We’ve had enough issues in the dressing room in the past without bringing in a prima donna.
On the other hand, if he scores a shedload I’ll think CW has done a great job on him. Shallow? Me? Surely not.
He sounds like he comes with baggage that we can do without. Either the Club believe that they can do something or tap into something that Brighton and Potter couldn't or it's a massive own goal. I just can't see it myself.
My admittedly knee jerk reaction is that it isn't what I thought Scott and Wilder would be countenancing, too many red flags and flashing lights. Disappointed and underwhelmed from me with a huge dollop of genuine doubting concern.
We have had our fair share of these type of lads in the past, Keith O'Neil and Jordan Jones spring to mind, the only one that I can remember working out was Graeme Souness and there have been far too many afterwards that didn't.
I think it will be just a matter of weeks before he falls foul of Wilder for his shenanigans in the the towns Pubs and Clubs. He was even in trouble apparently over breaching lockdown rules which at a time like now is the last thing any Club wants from a Player. Throw in that he will be earning double or even more than that which most of the squad earn and a cheeky 21 year old turning up full of his own arrogant self importance will only end one way.
@lenmasterman: Some concerns shared here, too. Not likely to be a prolific scorer, I'd say. And that is what we really need. The "baggage" might well be an issue but if he's only 21 years old, he MIGHT still be mouldable. I suppose it depends how much he wants to succeed but I suspect Chris Wilder is unlikely to go for something where there is only a minimal chance of success.
I take fully onboard the concerns Redcar Red has raised, as well. I suppose there are many girlfriends out there who thought they could "tame" that wild-spirited wandering boyfriend, but how many succeed?
I was hoping to watch the game on MFC Live tonight but can only see an audio option. Does anyone know if it’s available?
@lenmasterman: Some concerns shared here, too. Not likely to be a prolific scorer, I'd say. And that is what we really need. The "baggage" might well be an issue but if he's only 21 years old, he MIGHT still be mouldable. I suppose it depends how much he wants to succeed but I suspect Chris Wilder is unlikely to go for something where there is only a minimal chance of success.
I take fully onboard the concerns Redcar Red has raised, as well. I suppose there are many girlfriends out there who thought they could "tame" that wild-spirited wandering boyfriend, but how many succeed?
I think Wilder signed Ravel Morrison for Sheffield Utd. I hope this isn’t a case of lessons not being learned.
In the few games I’ve seen Connolly play I must say I have been impressed by his football intelligence, pace and technique. A committed Connelly would be a frightening prospect for any Chanpionship defence.
He looks to be one of those who can be as successful as he wants to be but the penny has yet to drop and it’s a risk. That said, maybe being away from the easy excesses of Brighton/London could help him focus.
So not adding to squad but sorting it out a bit !
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@redcarred I had heard rumours about Connolly some time back when he was first mooted as a possible loan. Now after Jarrko’s article link, I am certainly wondering……if a good Manager like Potter cannot get him to see straight then I doubt even CW will probably have much success.
And as RR said, earning possibly four times what Jones is earning and more than most, any indiscretions will not go down well at Rockcliffe.
A very interesting and witty article from a fan that pulls no punches. As an aside can the writer go to work for The Evening Gazette please!
UTB,
John
Just a Wild(er) idea. Could Chuba Akpom fit in to the system under the new manager?
He is on loan now but he was a £3 million player when signed. He started well but then disappeared somewhere when the goals dried up.
I just cannot really say what kind of player he was. But could he play in our current system?
At least we have made a huge investment in the player already. Financially it could make sense to bring him back from his loan at PAOK Thessaloniki.
Up the Boro!
Looking at our squad and based on Wilder's usual formation gives this:
GK: Lumley, Daniels, Brynn
RCB: McNair, Dijksteel, Peltier, Wood
CB: Fry, Bamba, Hall
LCB: McNair, Peltier
RWB: Jones, McNair, Dijksteel, Peltier
LWB: Bola, Taylor, Peltier
RM: Crooks, Payero
DCM: Howson, McNair, Crooks?
LM: Tav, Lea Siliki
SS: Watmore, Connolly, Hernandez
CF: Sporar, Uche, Coburn
As it stands, McNair is our best RCB, LCB, only back-up for Howson and probably the second-best right wing-back.
If Howson is out for a while we have real difficulties in that defensive midfield position unless we can find someone to replace McNair at left centre back.
We don't really have a back-up for Sporar that fits in the system. With Lea Siliki away again we don't have a back-up for Tav unless Payero plays on his wrong side.
Peltier is pretty much having to back up every position going in defence but he's really only a good fit for RCB.
Browne could possibly play right midfielder or as a second striker but is more likely to go out on loan.
Left centre back position looks weak: McNair does well there but he is playing on his wrong side.
Of the U23s, maybe Joe Gibson could play right wing back. Connor Malley may be an option on the right of midfield.
You can see why Wilder hasn't been subbing on midfielders because with the possible exception of Payero there's no one even close to the standard of the normal starting three.
If the rumours about Riley McGree and Jamie McGrath are true it looks like we're trying to plug the gap on the left of midfield. Presumably we're after Balogun as a back-up to Sporar. The rumours about Matt O'Riley indicate a possible interest in another right midfielder; that would give an option for Crooks to drop into the Howson role if needed.
It's surprising that we haven't heard any rumours about a left-sided centre back.
I don't know if Hernandez and/or Lea siliki have termination clauses in their loan agreements that we can exercise but it looks like those two, Uche, Coburn and possibly Hall are surplus to requirements. I presume Brynn has been brought back in case we have an injury to Daniels or Lumley but apparently Wilder has form for choosing young keepers so he might get a run out against Mansfield.
@deleriad Good summary of the current squad and positions.
As you said, we are weak on the left side from a LCB, we do not actually have one, the nearest being Taylor I guess.
Then there is only really Tav on the left that one would call a forward player.
On the right I would disagree and say Dijksteel is a better RWB than McNair, but in reality neither are the answer to losing Jones.
As for the DCM and cover for Howson. Do we really bring in a cover/future replacement or use Crooks. My issue with him is his disciplinary record. Yes players in this position generally pick up more cards than other players, but at times he looks to be always near two yellows and a red.
Now we have Connolly to add into the squad. Is he cover for SS or CF?
Given our progress under CW, I think Mr Gibson will make funds available to try and keep the momentum going on the upward curve. However there will have to be an unloading of the loan players, if that is possible, to make space within the 25 plus some of the fringe players, if we can find takers.
And what do we do about Ameobi and Fisher, both registered but neither likely to play this season, certainly the latter. I do not think we can deregister them.
So overall a rather difficult issue to deal with, especially given the number of summer signings not really seen a part of the starting 11 and falling further down the ladder if we bring in other players deemed better.
Plenty of assumptions and rumour still abound about Djed Spence but thus far nothing "officially" announced or confirmed. Of course it may just be that the agreement was for a season long loan and so therefore neither Club feel it necessary to comment at all. I would be surprised if Boro wanted him back due to the supposed issues while he was here if true rather than a fall out with Warnock.
Other links have a Morecombe forward named Stockton being touted with the Boro who are named on a long list of suitors. Doubtful at the lads age of 28 but he does seem a fox in the box of the Allan Clarke type for those old enough to recall the Leeds man in his heyday.
Rumours are still strong about the Brummie playing Australian owned by a US club Charlotte who have never actually played a game yet. Riley McGree seems to be an option for midfield but looks like he could be a replacement for JLS or even Tav if Leeds, Burnley and Newcastle up their alleged reported interests. That said I'm not sure how we could ever replace JLS given his impact on the squad to date.
First, Josh Coburn has been rewarded for his progress with a new long-term contract at the club.
The 19-year-old has signed a deal until 2025 that also includes a further year’s option.
Well done, Boro 🤗.
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Secondly, midfielder James Lea Siliki has linked up with Cameroon ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The 25-year-old is part of a 28-man squad that also includes one-time Boro defender Harold Moukoudi.
I still like to think Lea-Siliki might have a role at Boro. He is the only left-footed alternative for Tavanier. So we need him in the squad. Like we need Payero on the right-hand side.
Up the Boro
Middlesbrough set to sign left back Bryant Akono Bilongo, former Chelsea trialist to undergo his medical today
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@redcarred I believe as reported, in that CW has stated no loanees will be coming back before the season end.
Also it is mooted Boro have agreed a new loan fee for Spence to cover the second half of the campaign.