Reports suggest that Middlesbrough are one of four Championship clubs who are interested in signing wing-back Matty Sorinola.
Michael Carrick is likely to be in the market for a right-back in the coming weeks having lost Tommy Smith for the season through a long term injury. It leaves him with Anfernee Dijksteel as his only specialist right-back. A report on the TEAMtalk website explain that Middlesbrough, Southampton are keen on his signature. With Stoke City and Preston making up the quartet of interested parties.
Sorinola, who has been with Belgian side Union St Gilloise since joining in 2021, has terminated his contract with the club and is now a free agent. He moved to the club from MK Dons after coming through the ranks at Fulham’s academy.
Southampton boss looking for reunion
The wing-back only made 14 appearances overall for the Belgian side and actually returned to England for a loan spell with Swansea in 2022, where he played under Russell Martin, which could explain Southampton’s interest as the current boss may want to a reunion with the versatile defender.
For Middlesbrough, an attacking right-back is very much a position that Carrick would like to fill, having played four different players there already during this campaign. Often, the solution has had to be a centre-back out of position due to the lack of options. The Boro Head Coach will presumably see January as a chance to end the constant thread of square pegs and round holes.
The profile of Matty Sorinola would also suit the club’s now established recruitment policy that appears to be structured around purchasing young, inexpensive potential assets that can be developed and progressed. With no fee involved and only 22-years-old, Sorinola represents minimum risk.
Boro’s transfer objectives
Boro are well stocked (at the moment) in the left-back area, with Alex Bangura and Lukas Engel competing for one place, but the right-back spot is one that is only contested by Anfernee Dijksteel, and as competent as the Dutchman is, one injury or suspension means Boro are again trying to juggle their increasingly depleted pack.
Middlesbrough fans will be watching the January transfer window’s activities with keen interest, knowing that the club are a little short in the striker and right-back areas. Injuries have threatened to derail their Play-off hopes, but another win away against Huddersfield has kept them in the hunt, trailing sixth by only three points now.
The club will also have to contend with the loss of three players to the AFCON Cup and The Asia Cup. Riley McGree, Sami Silvera and keeper Tom Glover could miss as many as six matches.