Middlesbrough are looking to pursue out of favour Nottingham Forest defender, Joe Worrall as they step up their search for defensive replacements for long term absentees Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith.
Michael Carrick will be hoping to add the 26-year-old to his depleted squad in a bid to stay in the hunt for a play-off place after a hectic Christmas period threatens to take it’s toll on a threadbare Boro side that is still competing in both cup competitions.
Despite being Nottingham Forest’s captain, according to journalist Alan Nixon, Joe Worrall is being squeezed out at the East Midlands club and will be offered to potential suitors come January. Worrall, an experienced centre-back who knows what it takes to win promotion from the Championship, would fit the bill perfectly for Middlesbrough, who will initially look to offer Forest a loan deal that could eventually lead to a permanent transfer.
It could see Boro’s Head of Football Kieran Scott negotiate a similar deal to the one they have in place with Leeds United’s Sam Greenwood; a loan deal that has an already stipulated buy clause, should the set-up suit all parties.
Injury-ravaged Boro need to bolster defence
Middlesbrough’s injury-ravaged season continues to disrupt their rhythm, with defenders Tommy Smith, Darragh Lenihan, and Paddy McNair, all missing through injury. Add to that the fact that one of the few remaining centre-backs available is Matt Clarke who has missed over a year of football, and you begin to realise the enormity of Middlesbrough’s task of stemming the goals conceded issue at the back.
Middlesbrough’s summer signing, Rav van den Berg has been excellent this season and has played right across the back line, but Michael Carrick will be desperate to add some much needed quality around him. The side has already fielded five different centre-back pairings during this campaign and they need to find some stability in that area. Worrall played 39 times in Nottingham Forest’s 2021/22 promotion campaign. That season saw Forest concede just 40 goals, the second best defensive record in the division, only Bournemouth conceded fewer.
Number of areas require strengthening
It is expected that Boro pinpoint a number of areas in the January market. The long term injuries in defence could dictate the decision to strengthen at centre-back and particularly right-back with only Anfernee Dijksteel the only available full-back on the right hand side.
A centre-forward is also a position that needs attention, with Emannuel Latte Lath carrying the mantle up front alone after it was revealed that Josh Coburn is carrying an injury.
Other positions worthy of mention are the central midfield berths. Hayden Hackney is expected to return soon to ease that worry, and Lewis O’Brien, of course a loan player acquired from Forest, should start training again soon after a lengthy lay-off. The caveat with that, is that Jonny Howson, who has been a very consistent performer, is 35 and needs to be protected where possible. The Championship is a long slog and we saw that he struggled for fitness at the end of last season, as did many who played for long spells.