Middlesbrough will be desperate to keep hold of Rav van den Berg for as long as possible.
Rav van den Berg joined Boro from Dutch outfit PEC Zwolle in July, 2023.
The centre-back was just 18 years of age when he made the switch to the Riverside Stadium but became an instant starter under Michael Carrick.
Van den Berg’s debut campaign in England saw him make 39 appearances in all competitions, playing a key role in the club losing just one of their last 12 Championship matches in 2023/24.
Such excellent form earned the young stopper the Middlesbrough Player of the Year award for this past season.
Van den Berg has been backed to play Championship League football by one pundit as well.
But after a bright start to his Boro career, the now 20-year-old is already attracting interest from other clubs.
Fulham wanted to sign Van den Berg during the summer transfer window but Boro stood firm on their stance of not letting any key players leave.
Jonny Howson makes Rav van den Berg prediction
However, it is clear Van den Berg has a very bright future in the game and unfortunately for Boro fans, it may be away from Teesside.
The stopper remains under contract until 2027 but that will not stop fresh interest emerging next summer and potentially in January.
One Premier League side have already shown interest in Van den Berg and now Jonny Howson has backed his teammate to reach the ‘highest level’, as per Teesside Live.
He said: “I’ll go with Rav. For his debut season, especially with how young he is – which I think you can easily forget at times – I thought he was unbelievable.
“The potential, going off last season, what he could go on to do, I think he can be anything he wants to be. He can go to the highest level.”
What Middlesbrough must do to keep Rav van den Berg
Steve Gibson made his stance on selling key players clear during the most recent transfer window.
Bids for Rav and Emmanuel Latte Lath were rejected over the summer, which should give Carrick the best possible chance of achieving promotion in 2024/25.
On paper, Boro now have one of the best squads in the Championship, especially when you look at the quality depth in each position.
However, promotion is by no means guaranteed and it is something the Reds have not achieved since the 2015/16 season.
But if Middlesbrough were to fail in their promotion push this term, it is likely they will have to sell assets such as Van den Berg and Latte Lath.
As well as players wanting to compete at the highest level, the realities of the Championship mean Boro need to sell in order to comply with PSR and after only one minor sale this summer – Hayden Coulson to Blackpool – Middlesbrough will likely have to move on at least one big name next year unless they win promotion.