Now the 2024 summer transfer window is in full swing, Middlesbrough are on the lookout for reinforcements at the top end of the pitch.
The 2024 summer transfer window only opened on June 14 but Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough have already been working hard to freshen up their squad as they gear up for a promotion push in the forthcoming campaign.
After providing eight assists in 19 games during a loan spell from Leeds United in the second half of 2023/24, Luke Ayling has completed a permanent move to Boro.
The North East outfit also confirmed a move for Mainz 05 forward Delano Burgzorg last week, while Aidan Morris is on the verge of completing a transfer to Boro from MLS side Columbus Crew for a fee of around £3.14m.
Middlesbrough’s transfer business is not done there, however, with the Northern Echo reporting that the club still plan to further bolster their attack with another centre-forward.
New signing Burgzorg can operate as centre-forward but is also comfortable being deployed on the flanks, while Emmanuel Latte Lath is expected to begin the forthcoming season as Boro’s main no.9 after he netted 16 goals in 30 Championship outings last term.
As a result, if Middlesbrough do end up signing another striker in this window, it will likely be a player who is used as more of a back-up option, rather than someone to replace Latte Lath.
With this in mind, Boro News have taken a look at three realistic centre-forwards the North East side can snap up ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Dwight Gayle
First up is former Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle, who is currently plying his trade with Derby County but will be a free agent come the end of June.
While Gayle, now 34, is perhaps past his prime, he has proven himself a very capable Championship striker in the past, scoring 62 and assisting 21 in 145 outings in England’s second tier.
Gayle’s spell with Derby was hampered by injury issues, but he did net three and assist one in his first six outings for the Rams.
As a result, given Boro are expected to be on the lookout for a back-up striker this summer, signing Gayle on a free could be a smart move for the Teessiders.
Kieffer Moore
Unlike Gayle, Middlesbrough would have to spend some money to land Kieffer Moore this summer but it is a deal they should consider doing.
The Bournemouth hitman, who has previously been described as ‘unplayable‘ by Scott Parker, spent the second half of 2023/24 on loan in the Championship with Ipswich Town, for whom he netted seven and assisted one in 18 league games.
But with Ipswich now preparing for life in the Premier League and Moore low in the Bournemouth pecking order with Dominic Solanke and Enes Unal ahead of him, the 31-year-old will likely be seeking pastures new this summer.
The Cherries are also probably quite keen to sell the Welshman in the current window as his contract only has one year left, meaning he will be a free agent next summer.
Lys Mousset
The final striker Middlesbrough should look to target this summer is Lys Mousset, who is currently a free agent after leaving VfL Bochum in January.
The Frenchman previously spent time in England with Bournemouth and Sheffield United, with his most prolific spell seeing him score six and assist four in 30 Premier League outings for the Blades in 2019/20.
Signing the 28-year-old does come with some risk as he has not played competitive football since January, but as he would likely play second fiddle to Latte Lath, it is a risk Michael Carrick and co. could be willing to take – especially as the transfer would be free.