Middlesbrough boss explains decision to move on James Lea-Siliki [Echo]

r00fie1

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Middlesbrough boss explains decision to move on James Lea-Siliki

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CHRIS WILDER has cited James Lea-Siliki's inability to force his way into the Middlesbrough team and participation at the Africa Cup of Nations as the main reasons why he has been deemed surplus to requirements.

Lea-Siliki, who is currently on international duty with Cameroon, has been transfer listed by the club as part of an ongoing January overhaul that has seen four new faces come through the door.

Boro’s most recent acquisition is Australian midfielder Riley McGree, with the 23-year-old’s arrival further weakening Lea-Siliki’s case for a place in Wilder’s team.

Lea-Siliki’s loan spell from French side Rennes held a lot of promise when it was first announced, but he has managed just ten appearances in a Boro shirt, only two of which were starts.

When the history books look back on the African’s spell on Teesside, it will be a short story all told. Wilder was quick to state his reasons why Lea-Siliki has been told he is free to find another club this month.

"He's struggled to get into our side because I think the three midfield players have been really good" said the Boro boss. "He had an injury and had Covid that kept him out of the group as well.

“The group’s gone well, and the three midfield players have been good, and Riley, for a long-term purchase, it’s always been on our radar to bring him in.

"I've talked about adding assets to the group, and I'm sure Riley will become a real fans’ favourite with his attitude, ability and the attributes he possesses.

"Sometimes, you look at it and, without being too controversial, you lose a player for potentially a month at a really important part of the season.

"I think there are quite a lot of factors that have stopped him playing and progressing in the team. I've got to make decisions. That's part and parcel of my job.

"I've got to make these decisions and I've got to have balance and cover. It's no good me having Tav or Riley who play there and carrying James when that money can be used elsewhere and manoeuvred to strengthen another part of the pitch."

As things stand, Matt Crooks, Marcus Tavernier, Martin Payero and McGree are all ahead of Lea-Siliki in the pecking order.

The Cameroonian was named on the club's transfer list alongside striker Uche Ikpeazu, attacker Marcus Browne and winger Onel Hernandez, who has since gone on to seal a loan move to Birmingham City.

Part of Lea-Siliki's loan deal from Rennes included a purchase clause once this season had drawn to a close, and Wilder accepts that could cause some complications when it comes to terminating the loan spell.

"There is a lot of work to be done" he added. "The deals are complex deals. There are obviously other clubs involved that we have to work with and try and get through the process."

Those conversations are ongoing, in the hope that a deal can be done before the end of the transfer window.

While Lea-Siliki’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations was always going to be an issue in terms of his Boro career, his lack of game time to this point is also a major problem.

"We've talked to James regarding his future and Kieran has spoken to his agent,” continued Wilder. “James wants to play first-team football.

"From his point of view and his parent club’s point of view in terms of his value, he's not really going to keep or advance that if he's not playing first-team football.

"Now, with the form of Tav, and Riley who can play in there as well, his opportunities and pathways are certainly blocked. He needs to play, and that decision has been made.”
 
Seemed like a great loan at the time but sadly didn't work out.
Best all round if we can shift him on
 
No great surprise and no great loss.
Best of luck for the future James 👍

I'd agree, but the rumblings about a permanent deal in the summer worry me, it seems we've tied ourselves into something as part of the loan arrangement which hopefully it won't be too costly for us to wriggle out of.

We aren't rich enough to be wasting cash on players that don't improve the team and that we don't need (been there, done that!).
 
"Lea-Siliki, who is currently on international duty with Cameroon, has been transfer listed by the club"

I though he was here on loan?
 
Me too. It's a confusing article. Makes it sound like we've transfer listed a loan player 😮
I think it makes it sound like we've already committed to buy him permanently at the end of his loan spell. Doesn't sound like an 'option'.

Seems like we're trying to sell him before we buy him... which is a bit of an unusual one!

Edit: I reckon this must be the downside of being a footballer. You think you might have made a good move, and can potentially get settled... and the next thing you're on the move again, trying to find a new club.
 
Me too. It's a confusing article. Makes it sound like we've transfer listed a loan player 😮
It does also state we listed Hernadez as well and he's gone.

I suppose it is a bit unusual, but it makes sense to alert other clubs as to the fact they aren't required at boro, but we can't simply terminate their loans so we have 'listed' them as available to leave our club.

The JLS one is obviously muddied by the fact that his seems to a pretty much nailed om 'loan-to-buy' with an agreed fee. It doesn't sound like there are any easy get outs, so assume we will have to pay some sort of penalty payment to wriggle out of it. Or sign him and try and move him on ourselves.

While wilder says he's happy with the three in their roles who are playing, it does seems odd JLS and Payero haven't had a sniff, you would think rotation wise and with Howson having Covid they may have got a chance.

I suppose Payero was injured and has had Covid too maybe, and when JLS was needed to play he went to ACON, so it is probably just timing. But it does seems he's tried different players and rotated in most other areas, and stuck with his starting 3 in the middle.

If McGree starts being rotated in and out then you would assume that he's just not trusted the others to do so.

And you would have to think with McGree knocking back Brum, Forest and Celtic to come here he has been told he'll be playing?
 
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The JLS one is obviously muddied by the fact that his seems to a pretty much nailed om 'loan-to-buy' with an agreed fee. It doesn't sound like there are any easy get outs, so assume we will ahve to pay some sort of penalty payment to wriggle out of it. Or sign him and try and move him on ourselves.
It read to me like we're accepting that we've agreed to buy him, but now want to get rid. The complicated bit being that he's technically not ours to sell yet? It sounds like we need Rennes to agree that we can sell him before we'll actually be able to!

A bit of a strange one.
 
I'd agree, but the rumblings about a permanent deal in the summer worry me, it seems we've tied ourselves into something as part of the loan arrangement which hopefully it won't be too costly for us to wriggle out of.

We aren't rich enough to be wasting cash on players that don't improve the team and that we don't need (been there, done that!).
Looks like we might have to pay his previous employers a loan fee to take him back
 
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