One Middlesbrough summer signing is now at risk of becoming a major flop under Michael Carrick.
Boro had a nightmare 2023/24 season, missing out on a play-off place by just four points.
This was in large part down to Middlesbrough starting the season poorly – failing to win any of their first five Championship fixtures and not really getting going until the second half of the campaign.
Their slow start was, in part, down to Michael Carrick having to rebuild his first-team squad following the exits of several key players.
Chuba Akpom, Ryan Giles, Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey all left the Riverside Stadium in the summer of 2023 and their replacements took some time to get up to speed.
To avoid a repeat of that in 2024/25, Middlesbrough acted quickly in the transfer market to get three new faces through the door before pre-season had even begun.
All told, Steve Gibson sanctioned the signing of nine transfers during the most recent window, some of which have performed better than others.
Middlesbrough summer signings have mixed start
Of those nine new faces, it is fair to say that some have performed better than others during the early stages of the current season.
Aidan Morris was named Middlesbrough’s signing of the summer recently and it is hard to argue with that verdict given how quickly the American has taken to the English game.
Delano Burgzorg has impressed for Boro during his few starts for the North East outfit, including in the 3-0 win over Leeds United.
Elsewhere, ahead of the Stoke City clash, Carrick gave a positive verdict on Tommy Conway, who has already scored two goals this season despite arriving late and only starting a few games.
It has not all been positive though, with Neto Borges ‘exposed’ during Sunderland vs Middlesbrough.
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Neto Borges now at risk of becoming Middlesbrough transfer flop
Middlesbrough signed Borges for £1.3m from Ligue 2 outfit Clermont Foot.
The Brazilian spent the previous campaign plying his trade in Ligue 1 and was able to hold his own against some of the best wingers in France.
Borges turned down a Champions League club to join Middlesbrough but his displays on Teesside so far may lead some fans to question why a top European team were interested in him in the first place.
The left-back was ok in the 2-0 win over Cardiff City last month but was not really tested against the side sat bottom of the division with zero wins to their name.
Borges was similarly quiet against Preston North End before his disastrous showing in the defeat to Sunderland.
It is still early days but if Borges does not start performing soon, he risks becoming a Middlesbrough transfer flop.