The future of one Middlesbrough player has been revealed after he was left out of the club’s pre-season training camp.
Middlesbrough have had an active 2024 summer transfer window so far with four new faces already through the door.
Michael Carrick has signed Aidan Morris, Luke Ayling, Delano Burgzorg, and Harley Hunt to bolster his squad for the forthcoming campaign.
Ryan Giles is also expected to complete a permanent move to the Riverside Stadium in the near future.
However, there have been several exits at Boro this summer as well, the latest being Sammy Silvera joining Portsmouth on loan.
Before that, Paddy McNair and Liam Roberts left on free transfers while Hayden Coulson joined Blackpool in a permanent deal.
The exits may not stop there, however, with Anfernee Dijksteel made available for sale and Dan Barlaser attracting interest from Turkey.
Matthew Hoppe not in Middlesbrough plans
Now, it appears another Middlesbrough player will likely depart the club in the 2024 summer window.
The player in question is Matthew Hoppe, who joined Boro from RCD Mallorca in 2022.
Despite being on the club’s books for nearly two years, the striker has made just six senior appearances for Middlesbrough.
Hoppe has been loaned out on several occasions since signing for the Teessiders but failed to impress during any of these moves.
Now, the Northern Echo report that the 23-year-old does not feature in Middlesbrough’s plans and has not travelled with the rest of the squad for their pre-season training camp in Portugal.
Hoppe is instead training at Rockliffe Park ahead of a likely return to the MLS this summer. Their transfer window does not open until July 18th, however, hence the delay in moving the striker on.
Middlesbrough lack depth up front
Hoppe may have failed to impress during his time in England, but his likely exit will further weaken Middlesbrough’s striking ranks.
Emmanuel Latte Lath scored 16 goals in 30 Championship games in 2023/24 and will be the club’s main number nine in the coming campaign.
Outside of the Ivorian, however, Carrick has very limited options to choose from up front.
Josh Coburn is the natural back-up option at present but he scored just five goals last season.
As a result, it makes sense that a new striker is understood to remain a priority for Middlesbrough in the current window.