Middlesbrough set to sign 3 players

 

The summer transfer window has only been open for two weeks, but newly promoted Premier League side, Middlesbrough, aren’t wasting any time getting ready for their first season in the top flight for seven years.

The Teessiders gained promotion to the Premier League last year, after finishing 2nd in the Championship behind Burnley, ending their seven year stint in the league after being relegated in 2009. The other two teams who got promoted with Boro, Burnley and Hull, haven’t done too much in the transfer window this year.

However, Boro didn’t waste much time in getting their first summer signing. A deal for Viktor Fischer worth £3.6 million was struck up between Boro and Ajax in June. Then a week later, they managed to make a deal with La Liga side Sporting Gijon for defender Bernado Espinosa for free. In the first week of the transfer window, they managed to buy Marten De Roon from Atalanta for £12 million as well as Jordan McGhee on loan from Hearts, then ex Manchester United and Barcelona goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, for a free transfer.

They have managed to do some good business this transfer window and it isn’t stopping there. They have managed to make a deal with La Liga side Valencia for right back Antonio Barragan and striker Alvero Negredo. Antonio Barragan has played in La Liga all of his career and played for Deportivo and Valladolid before moving to Valencia in 2011 for €1.5 million. Over the last 5 years, Barragan has played 110 times for Valencia and has scored 1 goal. The deal for Barragan is thought to be worth €3 million. Barragan is a fast right back and he will fit into the Boro team straight away and will link up with the right winger to provide chances for the strikers.

Alvaro Negredo will make a return to the Premier League after being sold to Valencia by Manchester City in 2014. He managed to score 9 goals for Manchester City in 32 games but he fell out of favour with then manager, Manuel Pellegrini. He has spent the last 2 years in Spain where he has scored 10 goals in the last two seasons after being sold to Valencia for £23 million. The deal for Boro is a loan deal however there is an option to buy for €10 million next season, should he impress Aitor Karanka at Boro and is due to a medical test. He will compete with Jordan Rhodes and David Nugent for the starting spot in the team as they normally play a 4-2-3-1 formation but should do well next season.

The final two players are Gaston Ramirez and Neven Subotic who are set to sign but are depending on work permits. Ramirez played for Middlesbrough last season and impressed both fans and management as he scored seven goals in his loan stint which started in January. His contract with Southampton ran out this summer and he had a pre contract agreement with Uruguayan side Penerol however Boro have made a deal with Penerol to relieve Ramirez of his contract with Penerol, but he needs a new work permit.

Finally Boro have made a deal with Broussia Dortmund to buy Neven Subotic for about €10 million, Subotic also needs a work permit to play for Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough has beaten interest from other Premier League clubs like Sunderland, Arsenal and Liverpool in order to strike up a deal. Subotic is a solid defender and fell out of favour at Dortmund after getting thrombosis in his arm meaning Matt Hummels took his spot in the Dortmund line up.

Middlesbrough have made some quality signings and this will separate them from the other two promoted teams, Hull and Burnley. This is definitely a statement of intent and is showing the rest of the Premier League that Boro is back and they are still appealing to big talent though just being promoted. Chairman Stevie Gibson is regarded as one of the best in the world never mind England and it is easy to see why. He has the backing of the fans and isn’t afraid to give the club money to spend on players. However a lot of credit has to be given to Cheif Executive, Neil Bausor who has made the deals for all the signings for about £26 million which is a bargain.