Middlesbrough should learn from the success of their Luke Ayling transfer and sign these three players this summer.
Middlesbrough and transfer windows have not always been the best combination.
If they are not selling their best players, Boro have been known to make some rather questionable decisions in the market over the years.
However, since Kieran Scott became Head of Football, the Teessiders have been much smarter in their transfer dealings.
The 2023/24 season was an excellent example of this, with quality additions like Emmanuel Latte Lath and Rav van de Berg added to the first-team squad.
One player who proved a particular success at the Riverside Stadium last season was Luke Ayling.
Ayling assisted eight in 19 Championship games while on loan from Leeds United and has now returned to the club on a free transfer.
With this in mind, Boro News have taken a look at three players with a similar profile to the 32-year-old who Middlesbrough could sign this summer.
Nathaniel Clyne
Nathaniel Clyne is now in the final year of his Crystal Palace contract, having spent four years with the Eagles following a transfer from Liverpool in 2020.
At his peak, the 33-year-old was a Premier League-quality full-back, making over 100 appearances for both Liverpool and Southampton.
Now he is coming toward the end of his playing career though, Palace have begun using the defender in a fringe role.
He only made 19 league appearances in 2023/24 and was played out of position on numerous occasions.
In turn, Palace would likely be open to loaning Clyne to Middlesbrough in 2024/25.
And despite his age, the Englishman would be an upgrade on Boro’s second-choice right-back, Tommy Smith.
Tim Ream
Like Clyne, Tim Ream’s time on the pitch is nearly over as he is 36 years of age.
However, as the soon-to-be 33 Ayling showed in 2023/24, Premier League-quality stars can still excel in the Championship into their 30s.
Ream has dropped down the pecking order at Fulham, making just one league appearance since February 17th, 2024.
But the stopper is a Championship veteran, notching 293 appearances in the competition.
His experience and leadership skills would also prove invaluable to rising Boro star, Van den Berg.
Zanka
Zanka joined Brentford in the summer of 2021 from Turkish outfit Fenerbahce.
He has since made 48 appearances for the Bees. The centre-back was part of Denmark’s Euro 2024 squad but did not make it off the bench.
However, the ageing defender would bring a plethora of experience to the Riverside.
He has featured in the Champions League, and Europa League and won the Danish League five times with FC Copenhagen.
But after playing just 14 Premier League matches in 2023/24, Brentford should be willing to loan him to Boro for the forthcoming season.
Like Ream, he would bring plenty of experience to Boro’s backline and impart key wisdom to Dael Fry and Van den Berg.