Middlesbrough had a successful summer transfer window, bringing in several skilled players to Teesside, which could potentially lead to some of their existing squad members moving closer to leaving the Riverside Stadium.
Boro strengthened their squad over the summer by signing players like Tommy Conway, Ben Doak, Aidan Morris, and George Edmundson. Michael Carrick aims to finalize a team that can achieve promotion to the Premier League this season.
However, with new arrivals, existing players may find their positions becoming less significant, as increased competition can hinder their chances of getting regular playing time.
With the January window looming on the horizon, which Middlesbrough players could seek a Riverside escape route in the winter window?
Alex Bangura
Since joining Middlesbrough from Dutch club Cambuur last summer, Alex Bangura’s time at the club has not unfolded as hoped.
The Sierra Leone international faced several injury issues last season, which allowed Lukas Engel to secure his place as Boro’s primary left-back.
Once again, injuries are proving to be a significant obstacle in his Teesside journey, as it was announced just before the start of the 2024/25 season that he would be sidelined for a while following surgery on his Achilles.
This situation prompted the club to return to the transfer market to bolster their options in that position, leading to the signing of Brazilian defender Neto Borges in the final days of the transfer window.
With two left-backs now seemingly above him in the pecking order, the 25-year-old Bangura may wish to seek pastures new in January, at which point he may have recovered from his most recent ailment.
Middlesbrough will face a dilemma though, as when he has been involved in the side Bangura has largely been impressive, with his two goals and three assists in 18 appearances last term offering a glimpse into the potential impact he could have in Carrick’s team.
As such, a short-term loan deal may be an ideal opportunity to allow Bangura to seek some regular minutes away from Teesside, whilst also offering Boro’s decision makers the chance to assess his progress ahead of a potential decision over his future in the summer.
Alex Gilbert
Many Middlesbrough fans—and undoubtedly their head coach—are grappling with the dilemma of what to do with Alex Gilbert.
The 22-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international has delivered standout performances when given the opportunity, showcasing his playmaking skills on multiple occasions.
In fact, Gilbert’s statistics from last season reflect his impact, as he recorded 1.19 assists per 90 minutes, 48.6 successful passes per 90 minutes, and 3.58 accurate long balls per 90 minutes, all of which surpassed those of any other attacking midfielder in the Championship.
However, those chances have been scarce, with most of Gilbert’s appearances for Middlesbrough coming in short substitute appearances and a few cup starts.
Finn Azaz seems to have firmly established himself as Carrick’s number 10 this season, and with new signing Conway also capable of playing that role, Gilbert’s route to consistent playing time at the Riverside doesn’t seem straightforward.
As the former Brentford youth player approaches his mid-20s, Gilbert will undoubtedly seek a club where he can secure regular playing time, giving himself the best opportunity to advance his career.
| Gilbert’s Boro stats 23/24, per FotMob | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | Goals | Assists | Avg. match rating |
| 15 | 1 | 3 | 7.3/10 |
Middlesbrough may not be the ideal place for him, and feeling frustrated by the infrequent chances—especially given his proven ability to perform well at the Championship level—he might consider a permanent move away in January.
Dan Barlaser
Few players in Middlesbrough’s current squad spark as much debate as Dan Barlaser. Some view him as a composed and tidy central midfielder, while others criticize him for being inconsistent, too slow in possession, and lacking in goals and assists during his time at the club.
There may be some validity to both perspectives, but one thing is clear: with Hayden Hackney and Morris, Carrick has established a central midfield partnership that is strong both for the present and the future.
With Barlaser now in a backup role and the impressive performances of Hackney and Morris making them essential starters, he may find that his best opportunity for regular playing time lies elsewhere.
At 27, the former Rotherham midfielder likely does not want to spend his prime years on the bench at the Riverside. With Jonny Howson still in the mix and a number of highly-rated young central midfielders emerging, Boro boasts significant depth in that area.
Barlaser was linked with a move to Turkey over the summer, and if he remains on the fringes of Middlesbrough’s squad by January, he may opt to seek a transfer.
Tom Glover
After signing on a free transfer from Melbourne City last summer, Tom Glover has struggled to truly push Seny Dieng for the starting gloves at Middlesbrough.
That’s not because he hasn’t been given the chance to do so, as the Australian was given the chance to make his claim to be Boro’s number one goalkeeper between December-February last season, as Dieng was sidelined through injury.
In the 12 Championship appearances he made last term, Glover conceded 15 goals and kept just one clean sheet, which were compounded with numerous individual errors.
For a manager and supporters, having confidence in shot stopper is vital, and that’s something that the 26-year-old just hasn’t been able to consistently provide over the course of his Boro career so far.
With Sol Brynn emerging as Middlesbrough’s top young goalkeeping prospect, Glover seems to have been pushed into the role of third-choice goalkeeper at the Riverside, a position he is unlikely to find appealing as he approaches the prime years of his career.
For the sake of both his club and international prospects, moving away from the North East might be beneficial for him, especially since he has demonstrated glimpses of the talent that helped him rise through the ranks at Tottenham as a youth.
Glover appears to be one of the more likely players from Middlesbrough to seek a transfer in January.
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