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Stoke City FC## Ashley Phillips and Mark Travers could be lining up against Stoke City this season
14:59, 29 Jul 2026
Middlesbrough are reported to be courting former Stoke City loan keeper Mark Travers as well as ex-Potter Ashley Phillips.
Travers starred against Stoke for Everton in a friendly on Tuesday night, having been a popular recruit under Alex Neil on loan from Bournemouth in the first half of the 2023/24 season.
The 27-year-old will revert to number two when Jordan Pickford is back from a post-World Cup break, however, and Boro are said to be keen on a player they had on loan in 2025.
That comes on the back of strong links with Phillips, aged 21, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at Stoke from Spurs.
Middlesbrough are searching for a keeper to challenge Sol Brynn as number one and they need a new centre-back after losing captain Dael Fry to Birmingham.
TeessideLive report: "Travers has today been linked with a Boro return. Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke says Boro are in talks with Everton over a potential loan deal for the Ireland international. Have asked the question and told they have spoken to Everton about the possibility. At the moment, it's no more than that, as they explore different options for their goalkeeper signing.
"We've previously heard they've held talks with Manchester United over Radek Vitek, while Ipswich's Kayne van Oevelen is another option. At the moment, it seems like a stage of asking the questions, seeing what deals would look like from a financial point of view, before then making their decision on which to pursue."
They add: "Phillips is a link that emerged that has some legs. Boro like the Tottenham CB, who spent the last two years on loan at Stoke, but a deal is described as tough to do. Reports have suggested Spurs would want £10m for the 21-year-old, but there is, of course, potential for that to be structured so Boro aren't paying quite as much immediately - as was the case with the Will Lankshear deal.
"Phillips is expected to leave Spurs this summer and was left out of the travelling squad currently in New Zealand on a pre-season tour. But many Championship clubs are interested. Similar to the GK situation, Boro are said to have alternative options that are being explored too."
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Jordan Pickford
Stoke City FC
Everton FC
Middlesbrough FC
Mark Travers
Ashley Phillips