Middlesbrough should be happy with their summer transfer business but one deal has gone under the radar.
The 2024 summer transfer window finally slammed shut at 11pm BST on Friday, August 30th.
There was some late drama at the Riverside, with Emmanuel Latte Lath attracting interest from Ipswich Town.
The striker’s head was turned by the move and he did not initially travel to Cardiff with the rest of the first-team squad for Saturday’s game.
However, Latte Lath has now made up with Michael Carrick and is available to feature in Wales for Boro’s upcoming Championship clash.
Outside of that transfer twist, Middlesbrough signed Ben Doak from Liverpool on a season-long loan deal.
George Edmundson also completed a temporary move to Teesside, joining from Ipswich until January.
The duo join Aidan Morris, Luke Ayling, Delano Burgzorg, Harley Hunt, Micah Hamilton, Tommy Conway and Neto Borges as the club’s summer signings.
Surprising Middlesbrough deal has gone under the radar
While the focus has been on incomings over the last 24 hours, plenty of players left Boro over the summer.
Josh Coburn joined Millwall on loan on deadline day, while academy prospect Pharrell Williams also completed a temporary exit.
However, there was one Middlesbrough exit that went under the radar, which is quite surprising.
Late on Friday evening, Sonny Finch completed a transfer to League One outfit MK Dons.
Finch had a superb pre-season with Boro and was expected to be handed more regular playing time under Carrick this term.
However, he will now spend 2024/25 out on loan, putting an end to any chance of a senior breakthrough at the Riverside.
- READ MORE: Emmanuel Latte Lath stance on Middlesbrough future now revealed ahead of Cardiff City clash
Why have Middlesbrough let Sonny Finch leave
Finch’s transfer came somewhat out of the blue, especially with Carrick seemingly such a big fan.
Back in March, as per Teesside Live, the Boro boss heaped praise on the 19-year-old following his return from injury.
He said: “I’m delighted for Finchy. He’s had a few issues with his ankle on and off for a period of time so we took the decision to try and get it sorted now and be patient with him, to give him a period of time to get back training, get fit, spend some time just getting himself back to his level and being really patient with him.”
So, why have Middlesbrough now changed their stance on the teenager?
Well, it may have something to do with all of their summer business. Hamilton and Doak’s arrivals means that Boro now have four right-wing options available once Marcus Forss returns from injury.
And though Finch is a natural striker, he would be behind Latte Lath, Conway and Burgzorg in that area.
Had Doak not moved on deadline day, Finch may have stayed put, but a loan move for the young forward does make sense this season, even if it came out of nowhere and is yet to be really talked about.