Michael Carrick will hope his Middlesbrough side is at full strength come the end of this transfer window.
After a sluggish start to the season, Boro failed to build a meaningful play-off drive, which resulted in them falling short of expectations.
As a result, Carrick will be eager to ensure that his team completes as much of their transfer business as quickly as possible in an attempt to leave the building in 2024–2025.
This transfer window, Middlesbrough has already added three players. Luke Ayling, who previously played on loan, is now a permanent member of the team. Since then, Aidan Morris and Delano Burgzorg have joined him.
The Boro manager is likely to seek to bolster his team in the upcoming weeks, and the team may look to the Premier League market as Carrick may try to use his connections to land some loan or permanent transfers.
Having stated that, below are four Premier League players that Middlesbrough may sign.
Bashir Humphreys
Bashir Humphreys, a defender for Chelsea, has been on loan at SC Paderborn and Swansea City for the past 18 months.
During a volatile period last season, the 21-year-old made 24 appearances for the Swans in the second division. He is still very much in the early stages of his career, and as Chelsea has several choices in centre defence, he may be going on another loan in 2024–2025.
If that’s the case, championship teams will be quite aware of it, and Middlesbrough ought to be open to a potential move.
Boro already has players such as Rav van den Berg, Matt Clarke, Darragh Lenihan, and Dael Fry, but Carrick might want to bolster that part of the pitch in order to get more competition and cover.
Humphreys is a player that the Teessiders may want to sign before the transfer window closes since he is skilled at playing out from the back and is very at ease with the ball. This style of play fits well for Middlesbrough under Carrick.
Will Fish
Will Fish, the defender for Manchester United, is another player that Middlesbrough should be watching.
Carrick may be familiar with the centre-back from his days at Manchester United, as he went through the academy there.
After returning to Old Trafford, the defender had two successful loan stints with Hibs, and teams in the Championship are monitoring his situation.
The Manchester Evening News reports that second-tier teams are interested in both a temporary and permanent signing of Fish from Manchester United.
Although it’s unclear who teams are interested, Middlesbrough ought to be one given that he would provide more protection at the back, much like Humphreys.
In addition to being quite dominant in the air and having the ability to chip in with one or two goals, Fish has demonstrated with Hibs that he is very at ease playing out from the back.
Charlie Patino
Although Boro has a plethora of interesting alternatives in the middle of the park, they might use some extra depth in their offensive midfield, and they might consider Charlie Patino.
The young player for Arsenal has had difficulty making an impression in North London and has spent the last two seasons playing on loan in the EFL, where he has accrued crucial playing time.
Despite not exactly pulling up trees, Patino showed glimpses of his brilliant skill during his season-long loan at Swansea City, where he finished with three goals and four assists in 33 league games.
The 20-year-old is undoubtedly a gifted player, and Boro shouldn’t miss the chance to sign him should it present itself.
Patino’s future may not lay with Arsenal, as it was previously stated in the summer. Charles Watts has predicted that Patino will depart the Premier League team this summer.
His absence from the team’s 26-man roster, which is currently travelling to the USA for a preseason game, will only fan the flames, and Boro may now try to take advantage of this.
The technical midfielder can provide Carrick with an option to Azaz and fit his style of play.
Ali Al-Hamadi
Carrick may use his connections to try to get Ali Al-Hamadi on loan from Ipswich Town in order to increase his attacking options this summer.
Kieran McKenna and the Boro manager get along well; they were coworkers at Manchester United for a few years.
Since they are in separate divisions now, Carrick might be able to persuade his former teammate to lend him Al-Hamadi for the next campaign.
With the recent arrival of Liam Delap, the forward seems to be lower on the team’s priority list, and Ipswich may choose to return him to the Championship to gain more playing time.
The Ipswich striker is reportedly not in McKenna’s plans for the forthcoming season, so an exit may be imminent. It has already been reported that Oxford United is interested in signing him this summer.
As a center-forward, he can hold the ball up with his back to goal and go in behind the opposition defence to cause havoc. The 22-year-old can also play out wide and provide a goal threat from the flanks, making him a valuable acquisition to Boro.
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