Middlesbrough are looking to bring in another player before the transfer window shuts on Friday.
Boro have completed seven permanent transfers this summer but at least one more player could arrive at the Riverside this week.
Middlesbrough signed Neto Borges on Tuesday and he will now rival Lukas Engel for a place at left-back.
However, while that position is now somewhat sorted, the centre of Boro’s defence is in serious trouble.
Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan are yet to play a competitive match for the Teessiders this term.
Both stars were injured in 2023/24 and picked up fresh issues in the 2024 pre-season.
Rav van den Berg and Matt Clarke began the current campaign as Boro’s only fit senior centre-backs but the former was then injured after the 1-0 loss to Derby County.
To compound Middlesbrough’s injury woes, Jonny Howson, who started the game at centre-back, picked up a hamstring issue and was forced off in the League Cup win over Leeds United.
- READ MORE: Transfer expert reveals why Middlesbrough have changed transfer stance on ‘terrific’ player
Middlesbrough in talks for new centre-back
In turn, 17-year-old Harley Hunt and right-back Luke Ayling have been forced to fill in at centre-back in the last two games.
But it appears as though Boro could finally bring in some much-needed support for Clarke this week.
After signing Borges, it emerged that Middlesbrough were assessing their centre-back options.
Boro News have now spoken exclusively to transfer expert Graeme Bailey for an update on the club’s hunt for a new defender.
And Bailey revealed that Middlesbrough are in talks with two or three centre-backs ahead of a potential move.
He said: “They are in the market for another central defender that is true – they need options, Lenihan and Fry being out are huge worries and they know they have to be careful with Clarke.
“I am told they are talking with two or three options.”
- READ MORE: One damning moment vs Stoke highlights why Middlesbrough must sell player before August 30th
Michael Carrick decision has cost Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough fans are no doubt pleased to hear their club are in the market for a new central defender.
However, a new centre-back should have been signed much earlier in the transfer window.
Fry and Leninhan’s injury problems are nothing new and it was clear in pre-season that Boro would only have two fit centre-backs to start the campaign.
This lack of depth at the back has cost Middlesbrough greatly, with defensive errors leading to poor results against Derby, Portsmouth and Stoke City.
Carrick has been generally very good at signing the right players for the club since his arrival in 2022 but his decision not to bring in a centre-back until the final days of the transfer window was a poor one.
Boro missed out on the play-offs in 2023/24 after a poor start and fans will be hopeful the same fate does not await them in 2024/25.