Middlesbrough could utilise the long market to strengthen a currently weak area of their squad.
It has been a summer of change for Michael Carrick’s first-team squad so far.
10 players have left Middlesbrough in the 2024 transfer window, including Paddy McNair, Hayden Coulson, and Sammy Silvera.
There have also been a number of incomings at the Riverside Stadium over the last few months.
Harley Hunt has joined Boro’s academy ranks following a transfer from Swindon Town.
Elsewhere, Luke Ayling, Aidan Morris, and Delano Burgzorg have all linked up with the Teessiders’ senior team.
Further incomings are expected at Boro before the transfer window slams shut on August 30th.
Middlesbrough are set to sign Micah Hamilton from Manchester City for a fee of £3.5m, which will bolster the right side of Carrick’s attack.
A Ryan Giles transfer update also emerged recently, though a deal for the left-back looks somewhat unlikely at present.
Elsewhere, Middlesbrough bid £5m for Tommy Conway of Bristol City but are facing competition from Burnley and Hull City for the striker’s signature.
Middlesbrough backed to make loan signing
As well as a new striker and winger, other areas of Middlesbrough’s squad may still see changes this month.
Boro currently have three senior goalkeepers in Seny Dieng, Tom Glover, and Sol Brynn and it is hard to see any of those players wanting to be third-choice in 2024/25.
The left-back spot is also an area of concern for Middlesbrough at present after Alex Bangura’s latest injury.
Bangura is set to be out for some time, leaving Lukas Engel as the club’s only senior left-back at present.
As a result, Boro News have spoken to transfer expert Graeme Bailey about Middlesbrough’s left-back plans for the remainder of the window.
And Bailey confirmed that the Teessiders could look to the loan market to sign a replacement for Bangura.
He said: “I think if Giles became available they might – I would not rule a loan deal out, but [George] McCormick has done very well as you know.”
Can George McCormick replace Alex Bangura at Middlesbrough
A move for Giles seems very dependent on Hull’s willingness to sell and right now, the Tigers are happy to keep hold of the defender.
In turn, a temporary addition could be a smart move if Middlesbrough can get the right player in.
Giles was, of course, a loanee when he excelled for the club in 2022/23 so Kieran Scott could try to repeat a similar trick in the current window.
However, Boro may simply look to one of their rising stars to fill the void left by Bangura.
George McCormick is a product of Middlesbrough’s academy and excelled in pre-season.
The Englishman is a natural centre-back but has been used at left-back by Carrick in Bangura’s absence.
McCormick lacks any first-team experience but his displays over the summer suggest he may be ready to make the step up into the senior team in 2024/25.