Middlesbrough are not finished in the transfer market, despite already giving Kim Hellberg a significantly different squad ahead of the new Championship season.
Attention on Teesside now turns towards adding more depth before the deadline, with three positions still understood to be under consideration. A wide player remains on the agenda, while Boro are also looking at strengthening in central midfield and at centre-back.
That comes after a summer in which Hellberg has already been given several new options, particularly in attacking areas. The Northern Echo reports that Boro remain active after bringing in Max Arfsten, Myles Peart-Harris, Sebastian Berhalter, Radek Vitek, Kyle Joseph and Will Lankshear.
One possible midfield addition appears to have fallen away. Rennes’ Jordan James was admired and discussed internally, but the cost of a deal was considered prohibitive and the 22-year-old now looks likely to join Wolves instead.
There has also been uncertainty surrounding Ashley Phillips. The Tottenham defender had been expected to make the move to the Riverside towards the end of last week, only for that transfer to be paused.
Much of Boro’s summer work has been shaped by what happened last season. Hellberg’s side reached the play-off final, but their automatic promotion challenge was undermined by an inability to turn territorial dominance into goals in several home matches against struggling opponents.
That problem helps explain the emphasis placed on strengthening the forward line. Lankshear has already offered an indication of what he can bring after scoring the winner against Wrexham in the Carabao Cup, and Hellberg believes his presence gives Boro a more conventional threat inside the penalty area.
“Signing Will gives us a dynamic in the box that’s different, but it’s not that we change everything.
“It’s similar principles, but connected to what player arrive and what qualities they have.
“Will is more of a striker in the box which means you can put more balls higher into the box, whereas we maybe didn’t have those types of players last year.
“It’s always about trying to find the ways with the players you have to try to score as many goals as possible. I think that’s been good.”
The Middlesbrough boss is not suggesting a wholesale tactical change, but rather a wider range of ways to hurt opponents. Lankshear’s profile gives them the option of attacking crosses and higher deliveries more regularly, something that could be particularly useful when opponents sit deep.
Joseph could provide another variation. His summer was disrupted by the ankle injury he suffered while with Hull City, but he returned from the bench against Wrexham and has reportedly impressed since joining full training. Hellberg must now decide whether he is ready to feature from the start when Boro begin their league campaign against Lincoln City.
David Strelec has also had an interrupted preparation after picking up a minor injury following a positive start to pre-season, meaning Hellberg has had to manage several moving parts within his attacking group.
The expectation is that Middlesbrough’s squad will continue to evolve even after the season gets underway, especially with a number of players either arriving or returning relatively late in the summer.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how much we can improve during the rest of the season.
“That will be a key for us because of a lot of players coming in, coming back, and doing that quite late.”
Boro therefore head into the opening weekend with a stronger squad than the one that finished last season, but recruitment remains unfinished. Three more additions would give Hellberg further flexibility as Middlesbrough attempt to turn last season’s near miss into another promotion challenge.
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