Middlesbrough still have work to do in the transfer market this summer.
Boro will be looking to make at least one more addition to their first-team squad in the final week of the summer window.
Middlesbrough have done some excellent work over the last couple of months with five senior players and one academy star added to their ranks.
Michael Carrick has seen his first team strengthened by the arrivals of Luke Ayling, Delano Burgzorg, Aidan Morris, Micah Hamilton and Tommy Conway.
Harley Hunt has also linked up with the U21s but has been included in several matchday squads by Carrick this term amid an ongoing injury crisis at the back.
With seven days of the window left, Middlesbrough want to sign a new left-back to provide some cover for Lukas Engel after an injury to Alex Bangura.
As well as another left-back, the Teessiders continue to be linked with other potential transfers.
Middlesbrough can sign a Premier League player this week after a transfer decision from Leicester City opened the door to one man leaving.
Michael Carrick responds to Middlesbrough transfer question
But with just under seven days of the window to go, Boro fans are no doubt eagerly awaiting news regarding more potential incomings.
No specific names are currently being linked at left-back, while the North East outfit could probably do with further reinforcements at centre-back.
Now, speaking ahead of Portsmouth, as per Teesside Live, Carrick has responded to a Middlesbrough transfer question.
When asked about further arrivals at the Riverside in August, the Boro boss kept the door open to a new player arriving at the club.
He said: “I’m not going into next week thinking it’s a busier week than usual because we’ve got so much to cram in before the deadline.
“Some things might get thrown at us between now and then, you never know. We’ve got good players, so you can never really know on that side.
“But we’re in a good place as a squad and certainly not going into next week anxious, chasing anything, or looking at that deadline as a warning or a beacon or anything like that.
“For me, we’ve got three games in the next week – three different games – and for me, my eyes are pretty much 85-90% on that. If there is anything along the way we have to deal with, we’ll deal with it.”
Where do Middlesbrough need to strengthen this week
The transfer window started off very well for Middlesbrough and most fans were likely content with the business done up until the season started.
However, the injury crisis Boro suffered in 2023/24 looks set to continue into the current campaign, making the need for further additions clear.
Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry, and Daragh Lenihan are all doubts for the weekend’s game with Portsmouth.
This leaves Matt Clarke as the only fit senior centre-back. The latter two of that trio have had injury problems for most of 2024 and Boro should probably look to sign cover for them this week.
A new left-back coming in, of course, makes a lot of sense as well, while another central midfielder may need to be signed after Tottenham have been scouting Hayden Hackney in the first three matches of this season.