Middlesbrough are set to miss out on one of their transfer targets on Deadline Day.
It has been a pretty quiet deadline day for the Teessiders, with zero incomings yet to be confirmed.
Liverpool youngster Ben Doak is undergoing his medical at Middlesbrough ahead of a season-long loan switch from Anfield, with Boro fending off interest from Hull City to sign the teenager.
Elsewhere, Josh Coburn has joined Millwall on Friday, also on loan for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.
Outside of the surprise move for Doak, Middlesbrough were expected to sign a centre-back before the transfer window shuts in a few hours.
Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan are all out injured, leaving Michael Carrick with only one fit first-team centre-back ahead of their meeting with Cardiff City on Saturday.
Luke Ayling has been used as a centre-half recently but has struggled out of position for the Reds.
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Middlesbrough move for George Edmundson now unlikely
In their search for a new centre-back, Middlesbrough were linked with George Edmundson.
The defender made his Premier League debut last week against Manchester City but was attracting interest from several clubs on deadline day, including Boro.
Middlesbrough were confident about signing Edmundson earlier today but a move for the player now looks to be off.
This comes after the Northern Echo reported that while a move for Edmundson, who is earning around £9,000-a-week at Ipswich as per Capology, was considered, it is understood to now be unlikely.
Somewhat concerningly, the report adds that Middlesbrough may opt against signing another defender before the window shuts.
Michael Carrick may regret George Edmundson decision
Edmundson was not expected to be a regular start at Middlesbrough during 2024/25 given his limited playing time over the last year.
But right now, with Matt Clarke Boro’s only fit centre-back, the club could really do with some extra bodies at the back.
Harley Hunt was handed his first start in the defeat to Stoke City and that did not go well, with Boro losing 5-0.
Another tough test is expected against Cardiff on Saturday and if Middlesbrough opt not to pursue another defender after Edmundson, they may continue struggling to keep goals out.