Middlesbrough’s players and staff will be enjoying a break after a long season, but their attention will soon turn to next season.
For Michael Carrick, it will be a campaign in which he hopes to improve on this season’s eighth-placed Championship finish to push for promotion to the Premier League.
There is likely to be plenty of movement this summer, with the likes of Hayden Hackney and Seny Dieng linked with moves away from The Riverside, but there will be incomings too as Middlesbrough look to build a squad capable of promotion.
As in the 2023/24 season, the loan market is expected to be well utilised by Boro, although one player who spent last campaign out on loan may now be brought into the first-team picture after an update on his future.
Middlesbrough to look at Zach Hemming in pre-season
That player is goalkeeper Zach Hemming, who spent last season on loan at St Mirren.
The 24-year-old was impressive as he helped the Scottish club to qualify for the Europa Conference League and St Mirren were keen on agreeing another loan to extend Hemming’s stay at the club.
However it seems that will not be the case, with St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson explaining that they are exploring alternative options with Boro keen to have a look at Hemming in pre-season to see if he should be entrusted in being their back-up stopper.
Robinson told the Paisley Daily Express: “We’ve tried very hard to get Zach back but it won’t happen. He is a Middlesbrough player and will be going back to Middlesbrough.
“He’s got the chance to be the No 2 there and he’s developed massively since he’s been with us.”
Robinson added: “They want to see him, they want to look at him and we can’t wait that long. When we have our first game, we have to make sure we are ready to go.
“These things happen. We thank the boy immensely. Zach has been tremendous for us, as have all the boys who are leaving. He goes with nothing but our best wishes to him and his family.”
Hemming could benefit from Middlesbrough goalkeeper situation
Current number one goalkeeper, Dieng, is being heavily linked with a move to the Premier League despite only signing for the Teesside club last summer.
The likes of Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are said to hold an interest in the 29-year-old and it could be difficult for Boro to reject their advances if a suitable offer is made.
However, the emergence of Hemming and Sol Brynn – both of whom enjoyed hugely successful loan spells last season – could see the pair allowed to battle it out to be first-choice goalkeeper should Dieng leave.
Hemming played 46 times in the 2023/24 season, keeping ten clean sheets and letting in 43 goals in that time according to Transfermarkt.
Brynn, who spent the campaign on loan at League One Leyton Orient, kept goal 45 times, keeping 13 clean sheets and conceding 51 goals.
Hemming and Brynn are 24 and 23 respectively and will both fancy their chances of returning to their parent club to take up the mantle of at least second choice goalkeeper.
If either of the pair prove to be capable of becoming Carrick’s goalkeeper then they could save the club a lot of money.