Former Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder has seen a bid to take Joe Worrall on loan from Nottingham Forest rejected.
The report comes from journalist Alan Nixon who suggests that Sheffield United would like to utilise the experience of the 27-year-old in a bid to avoid relegation.
It is no surprise to learn that Forest are reluctant to lend his services to a rival club, especially given the circumstances following their charge from the Premier League over the breach of financial rules. They are basically in direct competition, so it is likely that only a permanent deal with Sheffield United would work.
Worrall, who has been out of favour at the midlands club, seemed to be brought back into the fold under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, but still finds himself on the substitutes bench, unable to break into the first eleven.
Boro eye experience as well as youth
The Forest captain has been the subject of interest from Middlesbrough who are on the lookout for a centre-back after the long term absence of the experienced Darragh Lenihan and the uncertainty that surrounds the future of Paddy McNair whose contract expires in the summer.
If Michael Carrick‘s Middlesbrough were to continue their interest, they could be competing with Premier League clubs for his signature, so they will have their eyes on other alternatives. So far the club has been linked with Charlie Cresswell and Swindon’s young centre-back Harrison Minturn.
A deal for a player like Worrall would deviate slightly from the usual player profile arriving at The Riverside, in that he is a more experienced operator as opposed to a young professional yet to realise his potential. But Boro have shown that they can adopt their approach when the need arises, as they have done with the signing of Luke Aying. They have recognised that the model would fail if they do not ensure there is a healthy mix of age and experience within the group.
You could point to another period in Middlesbrough’s recent history where they had a strong thread of youthful talent through the squad. When the golden generation of Stewart Downing, James Morrison, Lee Cattermole and the likes were coming through into the first team, the club still had players like George Boateng to help add some gnarly know-how to that exuberance. That is always going to be the case with having young players. Carrick now has professionals like Jonny Howson, Lewis O’Brien and Luke Ayling to help the group progress.