Middlesbrough are set to compete with Championship rivals Sunderland for the signing of a European winger.
Middlesbrough are gearing up for a promotion push in the 2024/25 Championship season.
Michael Carrick has guided the North East outfit to eighth and fourth-place finishes in the previous two seasons.
However, with the club’s injury crisis from 2023/24 now largely subverted and all of Boro’s key players still at the Riverside, things are looking up ahead of next term.
As well as keeping hold of their top stars, Middlesbrough have already added three new players to their first-team squad.
More incomings are likely this summer and the Teessiders are being linked with a new name this week.
Middlesbrough to rival Sunderland for Topi Keskinen
Boro News reported last week that Middlesbrough were looking at foreign market to strengthen on the left wing this summer.
Now, according to Finnish outlet MTV Urheilu, Middlesbrough are interested in signing 21-year-old left-winger, Topi Keskinen.
It is understood that Boro’s Championship rivals, Sunderland, are also interested in the HJK Helsinki forward, with both clubs having been in contact with the player’s camp.
This is not the first time Keskinen has been linked with a move to the United Kingdom.
Blackburn Rovers reportedly made an offer of just under €1m in January. Aberdeen then made a bigger offer for the player – both of which were rejected.
In turn, it is understood that HJK will only accept a significant offer for the player.
What Topi Keskinen can offer Middlesbrough
Keskinen joined his current side in January 2023 and has since featured 66 times in all competitions.
In said games, he has scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists, including one goal and two assists in Champions League qualifying matches.
Keskinen is a natural left-winger but he is capable of operating as a centre-forward and on the right.
Middlesbrough’s only natural left-wing option at present is Burgzorg, so adding the Finland U21 star to their squad would be a big boost for Boro.