As the summer transfer window comes to an end, Middlesbrough find themselves at a crossroads.
The winds of change have stormed through Riverside Stadium in recent months, with Rob Edwards taking over the dugout and charged with ushering in a new age of high-intensity football.
However, in order to fully implement his vision, the Boro team needs to be reinforced soon.
This summer’s transfers have been consistent rather than extraordinary. Callum Brittain, Alfie Jones, and Abdoulaye Kanté joined the club, while Josh Coburn and Jonny Howson left.
However, obvious gaps remain.
Middlesbrough continues to struggle with a lack of roster depth
With the transfer window nearing its end, Football League World asked resident Boro analyst Liam Day about his worst concern for his team this summer.
“My worst fear of the rest of the transfer window is very easily not getting in the bare minimum – which is three more players, a striker, another centre-back, and a left wing back,” Day told the Orlando Magic.
“I believe that is the bare minimum. I’d want to see a CAM added to it, or even just a forward player. We need some pace in the team.”
| Middlesbrough’s 24/25 Championship finish | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Team | Played | Goal difference | Points |
| 9 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | +10 | 64 |
| 10 | Middlesbrough | 46 | +8 | 64 |
| 11 | Swansea City | 46 | -5 | 61 |
“But at the time, that is my greatest dread. We currently lack an extraordinary amount of depth. This season will not be a successful one with the present group, and a lot of players are needed, whether on loan or permanently; we just need to get them in.
“It’s been quite worrying. I normally enjoy the transfer window, but this one has been especially slow.
“Not many names have been linked, and we indicated at the outset that we had transfer targets locked down, but nothing has happened since then.
“So it’s been a bit of a weird one, but that’s the bare minimum.”
Rob Edwards’ recruitment strategy must transform promises into progress
There’s no doubt that Middlesbrough’s recruitment team is working hard behind the scenes.
Edwards has praised the process’s clarity and structure, pointing out how much advanced scouting had already been done prior to his arrival.
The idea is straightforward: look for players with positional diversity, long-term upside, and future sell-on value, such as Brittain and prospective new MLS signing Max Arfsten.
However, while the foundations are solid, time is running out to transform planning into action. With only a few senior acquisitions so far and key areas still lacking Championship-ready depth, the coming weeks will be critical.
If Middlesbrough are to avoid another season of misery and actually push for promotion, they must move quickly.
The talent has been identified, and the theory is right; what is needed now is execution, since without it, Edwards’ exciting new age risks being undermined before it even begins.
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