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Where Boro stand as we enter the final week of the transfer window
Neil Warnock is still optimistic at least one new player will arrive at Middlesbrough before the window closes
www.gazettelive.co.uk
Craig Johns 25 Jan 2021 [Edit]
Where Boro stand as we enter the final week of the transfer window
Neil Warnock is still optimistic at least one new player will arrive at Middlesbrough before the window closes
www.gazettelive.co.uk
Where Middlesbrough stand as we enter the final week of the January transfer window
Neil Warnock is still optimistic at least one new player will arrive at Middlesbrough before the window closes
Middlesbrough remain optimistic of strengthening their squad this month as we enter the final week of the January transfer window.
Boro have until 11pm next Monday (February 1) to secure any signings to see them through to the end of the season, with manager Neil Warnock hopeful of an incoming or two in the final seven days to just help his wafer-thin squad through the next four months.
While respectful of the tricky financial situation facing the club with no matchday revenue coming in currently, Warnock's ambition means he is hopeful, and confident, the club will back him to bring at least one new player in before the window shuts.
So far Jordan Archer is the club's only signing this month - with the free-agent goalkeeper arriving in order to grant Dejan Stojanovic his wish to go out on loan to St Pauli in Germany to play games.
But the Boro boss has been clear from day one of the window with what he really wants.
A winger remains the top priority for Warnock in the next week, with one loan deal agreed with an unnamed club and player but awaiting the go-ahead from the parent club's manager.
Warnock was always expecting that one to be a late decision, but was hoping he might know one way or the other early this week whether the manager in question would allow the player to go or not.
Since Warnock revealed the lined up deal, there's been much speculation about who the mystery signing could be, though sources within the club have been tight-lipped on the identity of the player. Warnock and club officials are said to have worked extremely hard on the deal, and were therefore understandably keen to ensure nothing much leaked out that could potentially jeopardise it by alerting other clubs to their availability.
Whether Boro will get that one over the line remains to be seen, but the club have been working hard to ensure they have numerous options going into the final week, while Warnock also spoke about keeping a close eye on the market as he was prepared to take the odd gamble if the right deals come up.
We know he certainly wants one winger, but he'd ideally like two, while another striker wouldn't go amiss either.
He isn't optimistic on the striker front, however, saying he had just one more option left after exploring other options as the month went by.
The final week of the window should see a lot more activity in the Championship overall. It's been a quiet month in the whole, which is largely because almost all clubs are in a similar position to Boro - the current climate meaning most are looking for temporary loan deals rather than anything permanent.
But clubs have been understandably unwilling to let players leave on loan too early, as they assess their own squads before making a final decision on whether to let certain players leave.
Expect more deals across the Championship in the next seven days than have come in the previous 24.
There's an understandable thirst for information for fans at Middlesbrough. They're desperate to see the club bring a player or two in because it could be key to their second half of their season not just fading out to a mid-table finish.
Warnock wants at least one more winger so he has enough options to change games.
The small squad at Warnock's disposal has done an incredible job to this point to keep Boro within touching distance of the play-offs - but recent defeats against Birmingham and Blackburn were timely reminders that the squad as it is currently probably just lacks an option or two in the forward areas.
In an ideal world there would be defensive reinforcements added too - Dael Fry's injury against Blackburn a warning to how short of options Warnock is.
But Warnock knows January is never a time for big squad overhauls. January is more a month for fine-tuning - and that is why he has prioritised a winger.
One winger Warnock has mentioned on a couple occasions is the player they've identified from abroad.
It's understood Warnock remains interested in the unnamed foreign star, but spoke about doubts over the move this month because he needed players who could make an immediate impact this month.
Due to the restrictions on travelling abroad, Warnock has been cautious over the transfer because he can't go and watch the player in person, while he also feels that they would need time to acclimatise when moving to England.
As a result, as we enter the final week of the window it seems Warnock's final decision is likely to have been to wait that one out until the summer - though that one might yet change if Boro were looking unlikely to get anybody else in. Maybe Warnock would take the risk on that deal six months early.
The name of Yannick Bolasie still hangs around too, after a move to bring him to the club fell through on October's deadline day.
Warnock and Bolasie have a lot of mutual respect for one-another, but Boro have been exploring other options in January, with Bolasie way down the list of priorities.
Everton's Yannick Bolasie (Image: PA)
But never say never is always a good motto in the January transfer window.
It would appear that Boro's decision to look elsewhere was inspired by a combination of Bolasie's injuries in recent years and lack of game-time, but also by his own admission that he would prefer a Premier League move.
It therefore made sense that Boro moved him down their list and went looking elsewhere.
But as we move into the final week of the window and with nothing seemingly on the horizon for Bolasie, don't rule out a move for the Everton outcast being revived.
Bolasie said that October's nearly-move was inspired by him picking up the phone to Warnock, who he worked under at Crystal Palace. As the reality dawns on the forward that no Premier League move is coming, it's conceivable he'll be back on the phone in the coming days, and with Warnock previously saying he'd 'have Yannick at the club in a second' it's difficult to imagine Warnock saying 'thanks but no thanks' unless they have better options lined up.
While it seems quiet right now, Boro have certaintly got many irons in the fire as we enter the final week. Optimism remains high at the club.
They aren't expecting any outgoings among the first-team squad either - with club sources quick to dismiss reports that Patrick Roberts could leave early. If Warnock did manage to get two forwards in before next Monday however, perhaps the club's thinking on that might change, given Roberts' struggles to break into Warnock's thoughts.
A few of the under-23 players could leave on loan, following Romarn Burrell and Ste Walker who both departed recently for lower-league loans. Sam Folarin is one such player they'd like to send out if possi
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