Middlesbrough's summer transfer plan & priorities revealed

Boro's recruitment department had drawn up different lists in the second half of last season to ensure they were prepared for the summer, regardless of whether Boro won promotion or not.

And leading targets have long been identified for this summer.

Boro will look to sign at least one striker this summer as well as at least one versatile forward and wide player. Central midfield is another priority, regardless of what happens with Hayden Hackney, though obviously one of the main - and most challenging - tasks will be to replace the Teessider if, as is likely, he moves on this summer. Targets have again been identified.

Boro will also strengthen at left-back having opted against trying to make Matt Targett's loan move permanent.

The goalkeeper department also needs addressing, with Joe Wildsmith and Jon McLaughlin having moved on, leaving Sol Brynn as the only senior keeper on the books.

GOALKEEPER

What's not clear at this stage is what sort of goalkeeper Boro will target, with Wildsmith and McLaughlin having been clear deputies last season.

Boro might opt to try and sign a keeper who acts as competition for Brynn rather than just cover, though cost has to be considered and the obvious priority this summer is strengthening the forward line.

Brynn will obviously be massively disappointed with Hull City's winner at Wembley in the play-off final and the keeper will no doubt reflect on some other goals he could have done better with last season.

But he also made some crucial saves at important times, commanded his box well and his distribution is largely excellent. Last season was also his first full campaign as a No.1.

Boro will again try to offload Seny Dieng.

DEFENCE

Left-back is clearly the area in the defence that most needs addressing, with Targett having now moved on.

The Newcastle loanee was solid and dependable throughout the campaign but his age and what he was earning at Newcastle always meant a permanent deal was unlikely, plus he was signed when Rob Edwards was in charge and Hellberg will want a left-back more in the mould of the marauding Callum Brittain on the other flank.

It's no secret that Max Arfsten has been a long term target for Boro and it's understood he again features in Boro's thinking this summer. Columbus Crew have previously stood firm and not allowed Arfsten to move on, though noises from the States have suggested in the past that the left-back has been keen on the move to England and the Riverside.

Arfsten is in the USA squad for the World Cup, though he's behind Antonee Robinson in the pecking order and it might well benefit Boro if he wasn't to feature prominently in the tournament.

One player who has been discussed a lot by fans on social media is Dennis Cirkin, who is a free agent this summer after leaving Sunderland. Cirkin would be a good fit for Boro as a player but just because he's out of contract doesn't mean he'd come cheap. There'd be a signing on fee plus he's been on Premier League wages for the last season since Sunderland's promotion. There's also his injury record to consider.

Injuries have held Alex Bangura back and it would come as no surprise if he was allowed to move on this summer. Hellberg must decide whether Fin Munroe is in his immediate thinking or whether he'd benefit from a spell out on loan playing regularly.

The head coach will also have a decision to make on the returning Neto Borges. The Brazilian, who spent last season on loan at Bristol City, has a year left to run on his contract, and while it's extremely unlikely that he'd play a prominent role next season, he could offer useful cover at left-back and centre-half.

Boro remain hopeful of agreeing terms with Dael Fry, who was this week linked with West Ham.

Boro will add cover for Callum Brittain at right-back in an ideal world, though there are clearly more pressing priorities.

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MIDFIELD

Boro have already demonstrated that they will stand firm on Hackney and will only allow their star man to leave if their valuation is met this summer. But with more than half a dozen Premier League clubs interested, Hackney will almost certainly move on and will obviously have to be replaced.

That's obviously easier said than done, though Boro have long planned for the possibility of losing the Teessider this summer - they had to to ensure they were best placed to act - and it's understood targets have been lined up.

If - as expected - Hackney does move on, that leaves Aidan Morris as the only established senior midfielder on the club's books. Boro are weighing up a permanent move for Alan Browne after his loan and will look to sign at least two midfielders this summer.

Alex Gilbert is out of contract though Boro have held talks with the former Brentford youngster about an extension. Talks are understood to have centred around game-time, with Gilbert having been a squad player in the second half of the season under Hellberg.

Saint-Etienne are unlikely to be able to afford to make Adboulaye Kante's loan move permanent, though the midfielder could well have played his way into the transfer plans of other clubs in France. He clearly wasn't in Hellberg's thinking when he was allowed to leave in January.

It feels like an important summer for Law McCabe, who is now 20. He still has two years to run on his contract and could do with playing regular football after his loan spell to Plymouth didn't go to plan. Hellberg must decide whether the Teessider is ready to feature for Boro or would benefit more from another temporary spell elsewhere.

THE ATTACK

Strengthening the forward line is clearly the priority for Boro this summer and it's understood as many as four or five attackers could arrive, though that clearly depends on who moves on.

There are clearly players in the current forward line who will be key figures next season - Tommy Conway, Morgan Whittaker and Riley McGree among them - but there's uncertainty surrounding others and Boro will look to freshen up their attack this summer.

Struggling to turn dominance of games into goals and wins was an issue throughout the second half of the season and ultimately played a big part in costing Boro both automatic promotion and success in the play-offs.

Boro have compiled a list of centre-forward targets, with a No.9 among their obvious priorities. Boro are in the market for a dynamic leader of the line who is also a proven goalscorer.

Boro also want to add more goals elsewhere in their attack and from deep. Excluding strikers Conway and David Strelec, Morgan Whittaker's goal return was excellent and Riley McGree chipped in with six despite his injury disruptions. But Hackney was the only other player to reach a handful of goals and loanees Matt Targett and Alan Browne were the only two to score four.

Boro want to ensure Hellberg has more width in his squad.

David Strelec would have hoped for a better first season at the Riverside, though Hellberg has backed the Slovakian striker at every opportunity. Eight goals was by no means a dreadful return considering he arrived late in the summer, had to adapt to an unexpected change in the dugout and had a couple of injury setbacks

Kaly Sene clearly wasn't in the head coach's thinking, however, and Sontje Hansen has made clear he was frustrated by his lack of game-time and will return for pre-season intent on trying to play his way into the side on a more regular basis.

Leo Castledine will benefit from a full pre-season, Jeremy Sarmiento must offer more than he has so far and there are decisions to be made on Sammy Silvera, who is out of contract but has been in talks with the club, and Delano Burgzorg, who spent the second half of the season at Bristol City. That looked a wise decision in January but Burgzorg would have likely featured quite regularly in the final months of the season had he stayed at the Riverside.