A surprise exit from Middlesbrough means Michael Carrick could be forced to dip into the transfer market this summer.
Middlesbrough have done a good job of getting the bulk of their summer transfer business done early.
Steve Gibson has backed manager Michael Carrick well in 2024 so far, with three first-team players signed before pre-season had begun.
Luke Ayling, Delano Burgzorg, and Aidan Morris all made moves to the Riverside Stadium on permanent deals.
Young centre-back Harley Hunt also joined Boro from Swindon Town. The 16-year-old is expected to be part of the academy setup in 2024/25.
With around six weeks of the 2024 summer transfer window left, further incomings on Teesside could still happen.
Boro News understands Cameron Archer could re-join the club if Aston Villa agree to a loan or if Emmanuel Latte Lath is sold.
Boro News also believes Middlesbrough are looking at the foreign market to strengthen on the left wing this summer.
Middlesbrough need to replace Jamie Jones after Salford City transfer
One area Middlesbrough were not expected to strengthen this summer was their goalkeeper department.
Seny Dieng, Tom Glover, Zach Hemming and Sol Brynn are the club’s senior keepers, with Boro News understanding Middlesbrough are not accepting loan offers for the latter two of that quartet.
35-year-old shot-stopper Jamies Jones, who acted as Boro’s third-choice in 2023/24, was expected to pen fresh terms after his contract expired last month.
However, Jones has now decided to join Salford City despite travelling to Portugal for a warm-weather training camp with Middlesbrough this month.
The Northern Echo report Jones’ exit came as a surprise to the Boro staff as the keeper was expected to stay on with the Teessiders.
The report adds that Middlesbrough could now opt to recruit a specialist number three as none of Glover, Hemming, or Brynn will likely be happy as third-choice.
Middlesbrough will still likely need to sell another goalkeeper
Jones’ exit has thrown a spanner in the works and bringing in a new third-choice keeper does seem like a wise move.
However, Carrick still has Dieng, Glover, Brynn, and Hemming all competing for just two places.
Dieng should be Boro’s number one going into the 2024/25 Championship season, but the battle for number two remains ongoing.
Glover deputised for Dieng in 2023/24 while Hemming and Brynn were on loan at St Miren and Leyton Orient.
Hemming enjoyed a particularly impressive loan stint, which could see Carrick offer him more regular minutes in the coming campaign.