WITH less than a fortnight until the transfer window closes, Middlesbrouigh are all hoping to conduct some late business.

What are their current priorities, who are they are targeting, and which players might leave before the window swings shut on August 31?

 


It has been a busy summer on Teesside, with Neil Warnock having made eight additions and a host of senior players having left, but Boro’s overhaul is not finished yet.

As Warnock revealed in the wake of last night’s defeat to QPR, two players are currently having medicals ahead of proposed moves to the Riverside.

Even if they sign, there are still another two or three potential deals in the pipeline.

Attack is the main focal point of Boro’s business, with Warnock despite provide some support for Uche Ikpeazu.

Andraz Sporar is set to sign on a season-long loan from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, with a view to a permanent transfer if Boro win promotion, but assuming Chuba Akpom leaves in the next week or so, which still looks likely, Warnock will still want another forward before the end of the month.

He is also hoping to sign wide attackers, with Yannick Bolasie, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Neeskens Kebano, Marvin Johnson and Hayden Coulson all having left since the end of last season.

Toyosi Olusanya has agreed a deal from non-league side Billericay, and is regarded as a first-team prospect rather than a signing for the Under-23s, while there have also been talks with Dutch side Heerenveen over £1m-rated wide-man Mitchell van Bergen.

According to sources in Netherlands, an agreement for van Bergen is close.

Warnock also needs a left-back, with Marc Bola currently the only natural option in the position.

Talks with Swansea City over Jake Bidwell have stalled over the Welsh club’s £2.5m valuation of the defender, so Boro’s recruitment team might find themselves having to look elsewhere.

Joe Bryan is not currently getting a game with Fulham, although as an experienced 27-year-old, he would not be cheap.

Aside from Akpom, there are unlikely to be too many more departures, although Djed Spence’s future remains somewhat uncertain despite his strong start to the season.

A number of youngsters, including Nathan Wood, will be made available on loan.