‘A real outlet’: Middlesbrough closing in on deal to sign 24-year-old player dubbed ‘terrific’ by Carrick

Middlesbrough have been urged to re-sign a former player described as ‘terrific’ by Michael Carrick.

Middlesbrough will be aiming for promotion in the 2024/25 Championships after narrowly losing out on the play-offs the previous season.

Boro’s 2023/24 season was disappointing, as they missed out on the top six by four points.

From December to February, Michael Carrick’s team had only four wins in 15 league games, causing them to fall to the bottom half of the standings and lose their chances of automatic promotion.

Boro went on to lose one of their final 12 Championship games in the remainder of the campaign – a 4-3 defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Leeds United – but it proved too little too late and the club are once again gearing up for another season in England’s second tier.

Middlesbrough have already begun preparation for a promotion push in the forthcoming campaign with Luke Ayling joining on a free transfer from Leeds and Aidan Morris set to make a switch from the MLS, but there is still work to be done on Teesside.

One of Middlesbrough’s major concerns in 2023/24 was the loss of many of their key players from the previous season. Chuba Akpom joined Ajax after scoring 29 goals, and several players returned to their parent clubs after loan periods.

One such player was left-back Ryan Giles, who joined then-Premier League club Luton Town on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell with Teessiders.

Middlesbrough urged to sign ‘terrific’ player from rival club

Giles contributed an amazing 11 assists in 45 Championship appearances for the North East club, garnering great praise from Carrick, who described the 24-year-old as terrific:

“He’s been terrific, and he was actually quite ill at the start of the week,” Carrick remarked of Giles in March 2023.

“It was up in the air whether he’d make it, so credit to him for putting himself in a position to play.

“His attributes – being so quick and such a good left foot – make him a big part of our attacking structure and strategy.”

Giles has struggled to recreate his Riverside form since leaving, failing in the top tier with Luton and on loan at Hull in the second half of last season.

Boro are reportedly interested in signing Giles on a permanent basis during the current transfer window. TalkSPORT broadcaster Phil Spencer recently urged the Teessiders to make the move, calling it a ‘no brainer’.

Spencer told Football League World that signing Ryan Giles is a no-brainer for Middlesbrough, if the opportunity arises this summer.

“Obviously, he had spent a season on loan at the club during the 2022/23 season, and he was fantastic for Michael Carrick’s side. He contributed 12 assists throughout the season, provided a real outlet on the left side, and was our team’s primary source of width in an attacking sense.

“He is maybe a little bit more of an advanced option than Engel, and that’s maybe something that will, as it stands at the moment, that we’ll be looking to see more of next season, but I think in terms of Ryan Giles, he does offer something very different to both of those players.”

Giles has not been at his best since leaving the North East, but working under Carrick once again could be just what the 24-year-old’s career needs.