Five Middlesbrough players who could depart during the summer transfer window
When Michael Carrick came over in late October 2022, Middlesbrough was only one place above the relegation zone, and everyone involved with the club would have been pleased with maintaining their Championship status at the conclusion of the season.
However, following a dramatic turnaround in form under the former Manchester United legend’s leadership, Boro have every possibility of competing in the Premier League next season, with a play-off position already assured.
Whether it’s another season of second-tier football next season or a spot among English football royalty, Middlesbrough will undoubtedly lose a number of players as Carrick attempts to really stamp his mark on the team in his first summer transfer window on Teesside. Here are five players that could leave Middlesbrough this summer.
Chuba Akpom
Middlesbrough fans would not want to see this name on the list, as the former Arsenal youth graduate is the current Championship leading scorer with 28 goals in 37 games after being reborn in a number 10 role this season.
However, Boro’s irreplaceable gem is only under contract until the summer of 2024, and with his excellent season nearly over and the summer transfer market approaching, clubs throughout Europe will definitely be buzzing.
As a result, Middlesbrough’s league status next season appears to be a critical factor in the future of their talisman, as both convincing the player to stay for another season in the Championship and resisting the temptation to cash in may be difficult for Boro to achieve. In theory, getting Akpom to stay, much alone extend his contract with the Premier League club, should be much easier.
Paddy McNair
McNair signed a four-year contract in the summer of 2018, moving the Northern Ireland international from Wearside to Teesside. Since then, the former Manchester United player has made over 190 appearances for Middlesbrough, scoring 14 goals, and was voted the club’s 2020/21 Player of the Year.
Last season, the 27-year-old made 42 league games for Neil Warnock and Chris Wilder, and he appeared to thrive as part of a back three in Wilder’s 3-5-2 formation. However, he appears to struggle to adjust to Carrick’s four-at-back strategy, and has made some costly errors of late that have highlighted him among the fanbase with more criticism.
And, like the previously mentioned Akpom, the Northern Irishman will only have one year left on his contract at the end of the season. McNair has only made 29 league appearances this season as of writing, limiting him to a maximum of 30 games, a significant reduction from his previous three seasons on Teesside of 42, 46, and 41 respectively. One thing is certain: if he is released, he will have no shortage of possible admirers in the Championship, with a return to Sunderland also making a lot of sense.
