Breaking: Middlesbrough are prioritising deal to sign 17-goal proven scorer and then follow it up with these 2 deals
The Tottenham striker enjoyed a highly fruitful loan spell in the Netherlands last season, and could be sold this summer.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Sign Spurs’ Parrott, a proven goalscorer with 17 goals last season, to strengthen the squad before other transfers.
- Japanese CM Tanaka could bring energy and goals, a great complement to midfield options like Hayden Hackney and Jonny Howson.
- Forward Sorba Thomas’s versatility and creativity make him an attractive option, and he could be available for a bargain price.
Middlesbrough hope to capture Tottenham forward Troy Parrott on a permanent basis this summer before making two further acquisitions.
Boro manager Michael Carrick seeks a ‘high-level’ center-forward, central midfielder, and versatile attacker capable of playing as a number 10.
The Boro head coach is definitely focusing on quality additions over quantity this summer, as last season’s heavy turnover in the playing squad established the groundwork for a talented side that is only a couple of round pegs in round holes away from promotion.
Despite possessing a proven goalscorer in Emmanuel Latte Lath, the Ivorian international missed 16 Championship games due to injury last season, and Boro will look for a high-quality player to fill in if he misses a similar number of games next season.
As a result, Spurs should prioritize signing the Irish international this summer before moving on to the other two items on their summer wishlist.
Troy Parrott
According to Football League World, Middlesbrough has been connected with academy star Will Lankshear this summer. However, Middlesbrough should prioritize pursuing a different Tottenham striker.
Parrott’s name will be familiar to many EFL fans, having spent time on loan with Preston, MK Dons, Ipswich Town, and Millwall.
He had a mixed bag of experiences in his previous EFL moves, but it was in the Netherlands with Eredivisie side Excelsior that the 22-year-old demonstrated his star potential.
With seventeen goals and five assists in 32 total appearances for the Dutch side, he finished the 2023/24 season as the club’s top scorer and has firmly established himself in the shop window ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to Football Insider, Spurs may consider selling the Irishman during the summer window. He recently had his greatest season and has only a year left on his deal with the club.
If they are willing to cash in on their highly-rated academy graduate, he would definitely tick the box that Boro are looking for. This would present Carrick with two proven goalscoring options to assault the Championship with next season.
Ao Tanaka
Ao Tanaka, a player who has sparked transfer interest for some time, appears to be set to make a move this summer.
The 25-year-old Japanese international has been playing for German second division side Fortuna Dusseldorf, but after failing to gain promotion to the Bundesliga, he is seeking for an exit this summer, according to Bild.
Leeds United is reportedly interested in the box-to-box central midfielder, having rejected a deal for him last summer. According to Hochi, the Whites are looking to re-sign Tanaka.
Tanaka would be an excellent balance to Hayden Hackney and the dependable Jonny Howson, and if the latter slows down in his 36th season, Tanaka would add much-needed vitality in midfield.
Middlesbrough might benefit from his ability to play both defensively and offensively, as evidenced by his seven goals last season.
Sorba Thomas
If Middlesbrough are looking for a flexible forward who can also play centrally, they should look no further than Huddersfield Town’s Sorba Thomas.
The 24-year-old can and has been seen playing on either wing, up front as a striker, or slightly behind the striker as a number 10. One of the most notable characteristics of Welsh people is their versatility.
Only Ipswich Town’s Leif Davis (125) created more opportunities in the Championship than Thomas’ 123, and his 13.3 anticipated assists and 0.35 expected assists per 90 were greater than any second-tier player, according to FotMob.
That’s impressive enough as it is, but when you consider those numbers along with four goals and nine assists were achieved in a relegated Huddersfield team, and you have one of the most dangerous players in the division.
It’s a frightening thought of what he could produce working alongside Latte Lath, and perhaps even Parrott as a Middlesbrough player next season, and what’s even more scary is that according to journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon, he could be available for as little as £750,000 this summer.
