The Echo is reporting, that Boro are in the market for a centre-forward this summer but one striker who isn't on their radar, despite links this week, is St Johnstone's Adama Sidibeh.
On the subject of St Johnstone, the Scottish Premiership side this week landed a former Boro striker in Uche Ikpeazu.
Elsewhere, defender Hayden Coulson is set for a permanent exit this summer - with Blackpool keen on signing the left-back on a permanent basis after his loan spell there in the second half of the season. Coulson joined the Seasiders in January and impressed at Bloomfield Road, making 17 League One starts.
The 25-year-old looked set to depart Boro last year, only to sign a new deal while he was on loan at Aberdeen and returned last summer hoping to impress head coach Michael Carrick. He started the first two games of the most recent Championship season but didn't play another minute in the league before his January loan, which was his sixth temporary move away from Boro.
Coulson has one year left on his current contract - with Boro having the option to extend that by a further 12 months. Blackpool boss Neil Critchley previously told of how "fantastic" Coulson had made a "real difference" after joining from Boro.
Still a fortnight for the window to open. Up the Boro!
It’s been heartening to see so many tributes to Rob Burrow, who’s died from Motor Neurone Disease. He was an outstanding Rugby League player for Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain and sensational to watch in full flow.
https://youtu.be/MuLATMGao4g?si=ntPsbj1_JIOKJC72
My business partner and best friend died of MND, six months after we sold our business and retired, so I’m well aware of what a truly horrendous disease this is.
Carrick signs a new 3 year contract, brilliant.
Come on BORO.
@martin-bellamy And remember Willie Maddren, too. His autobiography is excellent. Up the Boro!
Fantastic compilation, Martin. Thanks for posting
I just want to add my best wishes for speedy and successful treatment, Exmil. I’m really sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I hope they treat you well and that it doesn’t get too uncomfortable. I also hope you progress well enough to allow you to take up your seat at The Riverside for the start of the season.
Stay strong.
Middlesbrough & Sunderland Have All Been Credited With Interest for Manchester United Forward Omari Forson.
The 19 Year Old Has Been Offered A New Deal by United & Is Yet To Sign It, & with His Current Deal Due To Expire Next Month, Forson Could Be Available on a Free Transfer & Potentially Both Boro & Sunderland Could Be Looking To Pursue A Deal For The England U-20 International.
OFB
The veteran stopper’s Cherries deal is up this summer and it has been confirmed he will be allowed to seek pastures new. The news of his imminent departure will no doubt have put clubs looking to recruit experience between the sticks on alert.
Deals for out-of-contract players can be agreed and there has already been plenty of business struck since the end of the 2023/24 campaign. Randolph may not have years left at 37 but could prove to be a shrewd short-term signing.
OFB
There’s a useful article (link below) from Craig Johns listing 17 players from the Academy who could be on the fringe of the first team. I wonder how they compare with other up and coming players who Boro are ‘interested in’ and how many will start 5 games this season or next.
Utb
@original-fat-bob Omari Forson could be seen as one for the future, starting off in the U23’s to prove himself before being given a bench place, what that would mean for Coburn who knows 🤔.
Come on BORO.
@original-fat-bob Although I particularly liked Darren Randolph, at 37 I am not sure he would be worth his wage, especially with two young keepers in Sol Brynn and Zach Hemming waiting in the wings for their chance or do we not think either is ready for a place on the bench.
Come on BORO.
@exmil. Agree there exmil. I have been busy travelling so I have missed a number of posts. However it is nice to see you posting exmil.
I believe Carrick and MFC has some serious thinking to do at the goalkeeper level.
Also, just seen the Giles, possible link story. For me, no thank you. He is not a big enough upgrade on Engel and Bangura for the cash outlay. Fee or loan.
While back home in Adelaide, Riley McGree has told of his "love" for Middlesbrough and the fans as the midfielder enters the final year of his contract on Teesside.
McGree says he's approaching the coming campaign as he would any season despite the uncertainty over his future.
While McGree is a pivotal player for Boro, he only started 14 of the 46 Championship games in the most recent campaign because of injury setbacks.
The 25-year-old had surgery on a foot problem which ruled him out of the final weeks of the Championship.
Interestingly., I never knew earlier that he had surgery in close season and think he must be doubtful to be fit fir preseason. He is one of our best players and hope he will be fit soon.
Up the Boro!
Pre season programme out!
A visit from Dutch side SC Heerenveen to the Riverside headlines Boro's pre-season fixture programme.
Newly-appointed boss Robin van Persie brings his Eredivisie outfit to Teesside on Saturday 3 August (3pm).
Carrick's squad head to Portugal for a week-long training camp from Sunday 7 July before returning to domestic shores for the first friendly fixture on Saturday 20 July.
Pre-Season Fixtures
Sat 20 July: Bolton Wanderers (Bishop Auckland) 3pm
Wed 24 July: Gateshead (A) 7.30pm
Sat 27 July: Doncaster Rovers (A) 2pm
Wed 31 July: Harrogate Town (A) 7.30pm
Sat 3 Aug: SC Heerenveen (H) 3pm
I think the players return to Rockcliffe Park at the turn of the month. Up the Boro!
Stoke City have completed their second summer signing by bringing in Norwich City defender Ben Gibson. The 31-year-old former Middlesbrough and Burnley centre-back has signed a three-year deal with the Potters.
So Ben will be 34 years old when his contract at Stoke is over. I cannot see him finishing his career at Boro if he won't be loaned free to us after a couple of years at Stoke. Somehow I expected him to return to Boro around now as we did sign Colin Cooper, Gary Pallister, etc. again towards the end of their careers.
I am not saying we should have signed him now, but knowing his roots and family where he comes from, it would have not been a surprice. But perhaps a sign that our recruitment is working differently again. New times, new methods.
Up the Boro!
Personally I think it would have been a mistake for him to return. He was released because he has lost what little pace he had and Boro have good defenders in the side at present.
OFB
@original-fat-bob Yes, I think you are right. And we do have four excellent central defenders now. Up the Boro!
Have a look at what’s coming up for the Boro in the coming weeks…
- Boro’s first team players are due to return to Rockliffe on Monday 24 June.
- Fixture Release Day, with Sky Bet Championship clubs discovering their calendars for the new campaign from 9am on Wednesday 26 June.
- Season Tickets are also due to go back on sale later in June.
- Boro’s new kits: fans will be able to get their first glimpse in the first week of July.
Up the Boro!
interesting story in the Gazette about how Graeme Souness was scouted.
Interesting but not true !
I’ve told this story before which was recounted to me and two other match officials after we had refereed some trial matches for Shep at Hutton Road.
When Boro were managerless in February 73 Shep took over as Acting manager before Big Jack arrived.
Shep was also the Assistant Coach for England at the time and during a training session asked the players if they knew of a player who could play in midfield for the Boro and not costing too much money.
Martin Peters and Martin Chivers both recommended Souness who had fallen out with Bill Nicholson and wanted to return to Scotland.
Shep met up with Souness and persuaded him that the Boro was ideal to move to as it was only an hours drive from Scotland !!
Shep did the deal Big Jack arrived Souness didn’t play the first game but the rest is history
OFB
Gazette filler in story
Riley McGree hasn't ruled out leaving Middlesbrough this summer, in an interview that sets up for an interesting couple of months ahead as far as his future is concerned.
McGree has been over in Australia enjoying a break after surgery on a foot problem that ended his season early. He is due to return to Rockliffe for the start of pre-season training on Monday, June 24 and, in the meantime, it's likely talks with his representatives will continue as the forward enters the final 12 months of his current Boro deal.
Asked about heading back for the start of the season with uncertainty over his future, McGree told 7News Adelaide in his homeland: "Every season is important. I'm going out there as I would any season, (whether that) be with Middlesbrough again or elsewhere. I have to say I love the club and the people there."
OFB
@original-fat-bob I don’t think that story indicates anything, it is a quote (whether in context or not) by a player who is undoing contract negotiations, therefore he is quite right in saying with Boro or not, as we don’t know if Boro are pushing hard to sign him up to a new X amount of years. I prefer to wait to hear he has signed a new contract or agreed a deal to move somewhere else. Considering he spent half the season injured, is he really going to be hunted by some rich club to take a chance on him, besides one defeat (dubious one against Leeds) in our last 12 matches when he wasn’t even in the match day squad, are we really going to miss him.
Come on BORO.
https://the72.co.uk/2024/06/11/sunderland-middlesbrough-omari-forson-man-utd/
One of our “alleged” targets has turned us down for Serie A side Monza.
Come on BORO.
Middlesbrough have agreed a deal to sign American midfielder Aidan Morris from Columbus Crew.
Agreement around $4m. Not signed or done yet. Morris departed US U-23 camp for England. (Tom Bogert - The Athletic)
OFB
A report on the Aidan Morris transfer by the NE:
😎
@original-fat-bob only 22, but plenty game time over the last three seasons.
Supposedly a box to box player. Also in the squad for the Olympics.
Even the Gazette are reporting that it is nearly a done deal and Boro have after for 18 months.
Come on BORO.
Championship side Middlesbrough are holding talks with Tottenham to sign 19-year-old striker Will Lankshear, who was signed from Sheffield United for £2 million. Boro have already made a contract proposal, even though they face stiff competition from other Championship sides for the 19-year-old, according to Football League World.
Update: On Wednesday morning I have a telephone consultation with the Urologist consultant, probably about my Prostate blood test. On Monday morning at 10:00, I have to attend a meeting with Janet Shears, Thoracic Cancer Pathway Coordinator, hopefully I will find out when my chemotherapy will start, how long for and the planned date for my surgery, therefore I will have a light at the end of the tunnel to aim for.
Come on BORO.
Good afternoon, gentlemen. Just checking in. No news from me, and no rumours to disperse. I have just been getting on with other things for a week or so. Hopefully away in the caravan, if the weather permits, to a field literally next door to Fountains Abbey & Studeley Royal this coming weekend, so I have a strong suspicion where I will be at some time on the Saturday. For those away from the green hills, rivers and cliffs of North Yorkshire, it may come as no surprise that God is currently playing tricks with the weather here. Supposedly a record-breaking May in terms of temperature, it has been chilly on many days, extremely windy on others, and damp (or downright Wet, Wet, Wet) on most days. Not ideal.
Good Luck, exmil, on your forthcoming appointments. Perhaps, on balance, of more importance than the % chance of precipitation for the weekend.