The latest transfer talk from the Riverside Stadium as Middlesbrough look to add to their squad during the January transfer window.
A reported Middlesbrough target has already given a clear indication over how he views his future with just a fortnight to go in the January transfer window.
Boro have already kickstarted their transfer business for the month with the signings of Chelsea attacking midfielder Leo Castledine and Aston Villa left-back Finley Munroe and two outgoing deals have been authorised as Lukas Engel joined MLS side Salt Lake on a permanent deal and young forward Sonny Finch agreed to spend the rest of the season on loan at National League North leaders South Shields.
Boro are believed to want to boost their attacking options over the final two weeks of the transfer window and one name that has been linked with a move to the Riverside Stadium is Leeds United forward Joel Piroe. The Whites forward was a key part of his side’s successful push for last season’s Championship title and recent reports have suggested Boro retain an interest in securing his services as he continues to struggle to find a regular place in Daniel Farke’s starting eleven.
However, Piroe has explained he is ‘not really keen’ on making a move away from Elland Road during the coming weeks and stressed a summer move would be his preference if he was to bring down the curtain on his time at Leeds. In a recent interview with Voetbal International, the Whites striker said: “Honestly, that’s not on the cards right now. You never know, what if an opportunity arises that you can’t say no to? But personally, I’m not really keen on making a move this winter. Especially because the season is still relatively short and there’s little time to adapt elsewhere. That would be very difficult, I think.
“If I have to make a transfer, I’d rather join during pre-season and get fully prepared for a new adventure. [laughing] After the World Cup, so to speak. But I’m not thinking about leaving right now. I still want and can be of value to Leeds and contribute to staying out of the relegation zone.”
Boro boss makes vow over on-loan Premier League youngster
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Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg has stressed he will continue working with on-loan Manchester City youngster Sverre Nypan as the Norway international struggles to find game-time at the Riverside Stadium.
Nypan joined City from Rosenberg during the summer transfer window and was immediately sent on loan to Boro to gain experience in English football. After producing some eye-catching moments during the opening weeks of his time on Teesside, Nypan has struggled to break into Hellberg’s side in recent weeks and has not started a Championship fixture since a 1-1 draw with Wrexham in late October.
The attacking midfielder featured for Boro Under-21s in their 6-1 demolition of their Ipswich Town counterparts on Sunday and the 19-year-old will hope force his way back into the first-team starting line-up over the coming weeks after his current boss gave an insight into his situation.
Hellberg said of the City youngster’s lack of game time: “Doesn’t everyone want to play more? If I could have played against Fulham, I would like to have played in that game too! It’s the same for everyone. Everyone wants to play as much as possible, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s a few that have played every minute, and I’m sure they are happy, but I’m also sure that everyone else will have wanted to play more. The players want to play, and if they are loan players, their club will want them to play as much as possible. But there’s so much more to that which is important – how they are acting when they are not playing, how can we help them in that situation?
“I think everyone that trains with us can see we are doing as much as we can to help them develop as much as possible. But it is only ten spots and a goalkeeper – you cannot do anything about that. I think we create an environment here with how we work that helps the players feel that. It is my choice who I put on the pitch, but as long as we are doing all we can to help the players develop, I think they respect that. They don’t always agree with the decision, but it’s a very good group to work with.”
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