Middlesbrough face Millwall this afternoon (August 16) at 3:00pm, as Rob Edwards’ side looks to go back to winning ways.
Boro began their 2025/26 Championship season with a commendable 1-0 victory over Swansea City, but then suffered an awful 4-0 defeat to League Two club Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup first round.
With the transfer deadline just over a fortnight away, Middlesbrough is still looking for new players in important positions.
EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal that Middlesbrough are still “confident” in a deal for a long-term transfer objective.
Exclusive: Middlesbrough are ‘very optimistic’ about signing Max Arfsten
Columbus Crew, left wing-back Max Arfsten’s name has been associated with a move to Middlesbrough for several weeks.
Middlesbrough made an offer of £2.25 million for Arfsten in early August, but it was turned down by the MLS club, where current Boro player Aidan Morris was recruited last summer.
EFL Analysis exclusively revealed earlier in the summer that Arfsten has “had his head turned” by Middlesbrough, and both the club and the defender are eager for the move to happen.
According to BBC Chief Football journalist Graeme Bailey, Arfsten is ‘the one Middlesbrough want’ to sign as a left-back before the transfer window closes on September 1.
Bailey explained, “He’s the one they want. They truly like him. As we’ve already stated, I believe they’re fairly confident in doing this deal.
| Statistic | Max Arfsten |
| Games played | 25 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 3 |
“He’s probably the reason they didn’t really fight for Alfie Doughty, for whatever reason, and instead let him go to Millwall.
“There are other options there and if Arfsten isn’t done with a few days to go they’ll probably look at the loan market, but Arfsten is the one they want the most.”
Despite speculation about his future, Arfsten started and scored against Leon in the League Cup’s third round last week.
Amid the probable Middlesbrough move, one well-known personality among English football fans has lambasted Boro’s “low offer” for Arfsten.
Tim Howard blasts Middlesbrough’s ‘crazy’ offer for Max Arfsten
Arfsten, 24, already has 10 senior USMNT caps and is regarded as one of MLS’s greatest emerging defensive prospects.
Tim Howard, a former Manchester United goalkeeper, has blasted Middlesbrough’s bid for Arfsten.
Howard said on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast with Landon Donovan, “Middlesbrough man, pay us like you owe us; this is absurd.
“You know, he’s a young, up-and-coming player for the United States national team, right? If he keeps playing like this, he’ll almost certainly make the World Cup roster. This is a slap in the face.
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