KIM Hellberg believes new recruit Ashley Phillips is "perfectly suited" to his Middlesbrough squad - and has outlined why he believes in-demand players keep choosing to join Boro.
Phillips, like Will Lankshear, Sebastian Berhalter, Max Arfsten and Radek Vitek, had plenty of options this summer and Boro fought off fierce competition to land the defender, who has signed a five-year deal at the Riverside.
The move was confirmed yesterday and the 21-year-old was in attendance at the Riverside as Boro battled back from behind to beat Lincoln City 2-1.
Phillips was identified as Boro's leading centre-half target this summer and the club's recruitment and coaching team were thrilled to get the deal finalised after it was briefly placed on pause last weekend.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Why Hellberg blamed himself before Middlesbrough's 'beautiful' ending against Lincoln
- Two Middlesbrough substitutes have likely played their way into the team at Blackburn
- It's already clear why Middlesbrough were so thrilled with game-changing transfer
“I’m so happy to have him here," said Hellberg.
"He’s another young player that I talked to - a brilliant lad, who wants to learn, wants to train, wants to develop, and is perfectly suited for our squad, and the way we want to do things at Rockliffe.
"And then, the quality he has, the pace, the heading ability, but also, so much room for improvement.
"I think he was a very good centre-back in this league last season, but I think he can take even more steps.
"I'm just looking forward to start working with him. He's another one that hasn't trained that much, and will take a little bit of time and patience with that."
The arrival of Phillips was the latest boost in what has been a hugely impressive summer transfer window on Teesside - and Boro aren't finished yet, with a centre-midfielder and a wide attacker still on their wishlist.
Hellberg thinks the fact his new recruits have picked Boro over other clubs - including some sides in the Premier League and rivals at the top of the Championship - is thanks to the superb work of the club's recruitment team, led by Kieran Scott and Chris Jones, as well as the football his side play and the "amazing" support of the fans.
“I think that's something that has almost been forgotten, all these young players now choosing to come here [instead of going elsewhere]," said Hellberg.
"And of course, it's also because we can spend. You always need to spend, and, like I said, Steve, Kieran, and Neil, I'm so impressed by how they've handled all this.
"They have been absolutely brilliant in the way of handling this and working with this. They keep trying to get the best whatever possible, and they really want success for this football club in a brilliant way.
"You look at numbers from last season too, and you can understand why they want to come here in terms of playing.
"You look at our crowd, you look at the sell-out today, you look at an amazing atmosphere, you look at our away games where we take so many supporters, you get everything here in terms of that.
"That's why I think there's a lot of interest to come here, and it allows us the possibility to compete with maybe clubs that at the moment are playing a little bit higher up, or in a higher position, or can pay more - whatever it is. It's the whole package in terms of that."
Share