Middlesbrough’s loan situation ahead of the summer transfer window
MIDDLESBROUGH are interested in a pair of prospective loan signings this summer, but will be “smart” about their recruiting, only bringing in players on temporary agreements if there is a “end game” and their Riverside stay can be made permanent.
Boro have learned from the 2022/23 season, when they made a number of good loan acquisitions but then had to rebuild their team when those players returned to their parent clubs.
Boro took a different strategy this season. They continued to use the loan market, but they focused on players with a long-term future at the club.
Luke Ayling was signed in January with the understanding that he would be a free agent and available this summer, and Boro moved fast to make the deal permanent.
Boro had the opportunity of signing Sam Greenwood for just £1.5 million, but decided against it after the Leeds United loanee struggled to build on an excellent start at the Riverside. Boro might have also negotiated a permanent move for Leicester City full-back Luke Thomas.
The Lewis O’Brien deal was unique in that Boro were always aware that the economics would make it tough to acquire the Nottingham Forest midfielder permanently, but the opportunity to bring in a player who had previously been one of the Championship’s finest was too much to pass up last summer.
Boro’s priority this summer is to recruit players on permanent contracts, but they’ll gladly delve into the loan market as long as they have control when the temporary terms expire.
That wasn’t the case a year ago, when Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey, Zack Steffen, and Ryan Giles (whose position Boro is still investigating) returned to their respective teams.
“You can still loan, but we have to be smarter than loaning
eryone’s best young players who have five years left on their deals and you’re never going to get them,” stated Kieran Scott, Boro’s football manager.
“Luke Ayling was nearing the conclusion of his contract, and we knew we could sign him; there was an endgame there. Sam Greenwood, we had a choice there. Luke Thomas, we could have handled a similar circumstance. Lewis O’Brien desperately wanted to stay, but it was tough financially.
“This year, we’re considering a few options. There may be a handful of debts, but there will be a future for them.”
Boro are now focusing three areas following the acquisition of Ayling, who played an important part in the second half of the season, with a midfielder, a striker, and a flexible forward who can play No.10 at the top of the club’s wish list.
Boro are also open to reinforcing at left-back if the chance arises, which explains their interest in previous loanee Giles. Boro’s preference, assuming a deal was possible this summer, would be for an initial loan with a view to a permanent deal later on.
Lukas Engel and Alex Bangura arrived last summer, but the former had an up and down debut season at the Riverside, while the latter showed promising moments but suffered physical setbacks.
Meanwhile, ex-Boro goalkeeper Darren Randolph is a free agent after Bournemouth dismissed him.
Randolph has appeared in just five league games since leaving Boro for West Ham in 2020.
Djed Spence, another former Boro player, is facing an unclear future. His transfer to Tottenham has been a catastrophe, and the club is ready to let the full-back go on permanent terms this summer.
Spence spent the second part of the season on loan at Genoa, who want to sign him permanently but are hesitant to pay the £8.5 million agreed upon between the teams.
