According to Teesside Live, Middlesbrough centre-back Rav van den Berg will travel to Germany for a physical with 1.FC Koln ahead of a £11 million deal.
Middlesbrough took their time getting going in the summer transfer season, but things have started to pick up. Boro manager Rob Edwards hopes to develop his new squad to his liking.
The acquisitions of Callum Brittain, Alfie Jones, and Abdoulaye Kante will help him do so, but the majority of attention on Teesside has been on players who may leave this summer.
Rav van den Berg and midfielder Hayden Hackney have been linked with moves to higher leagues. In fact, some may have expected to have made such transfers already, but that is about to change.
According to Teesside Live, Middlesbrough centre-back van den Berg is likely to join German club 1.FC Koln.
The young Dutchman is traveling to the Bundesliga club for a physical after a transfer fee was agreed upon. Koln is expected to pay €13 million (approximately £11.2 million) to recruit the 21-year-old, with a sell-on clause included in the agreement.
Van den Berg’s old club, PEC Zwolle, will receive a portion of the fee owing to a sell-on of their own.
Rav van den Berg’s planned and amicable resignation from Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough may have entered the summer transfer window with the expectation of maintaining players like van den Berg. However, after another outstanding season of development on Teesside, there is talk of interest.
Boro has never stood in the way of significant assets being sold at the proper price, and the young Dutchman was not about to be the exception. He’s a highly regarded talent with great expectations, therefore it’s a wise decision to include a sell-on provision.
Few will be critical of van den Berg and his departure, especially with the opportunity to transfer to the continent and play on a large stage in the Bundesliga. With two years remaining on his contract and the player not making a fuss about a move, Boro receive market value for him as well, benefiting everyone.
What might the remainder of the summer transfer window hold?
Middlesbrough won their first game against Swansea City to kick off the Edwards era, but there’s little doubt that their roster needs more development if they want to overcome the gap to the play-offs following two seasons of falling short.
A van den Berg replacement will almost probably be sought, therefore the £11.2 million profit from his departure will be promptly put to use.
Another striker is likely to be recruited, and overall, more offensive depth would be beneficial. Depending on the outcome of midfielder Hackney’s predicament, another center midfielder could appear on the Boro radar.
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