It took Middlesbrough seven long years to get back into the top tier but now that they are up there, they aren’t finding it very easy. Aitor Karanka’s men are merely four points above the relegation spots and are already undergoing a rough patch as far as their form is concerned. Honestly, they still do not possess the required ingredients to sustain the animosity of the Premier League and no wonder why there is a sense of imminent danger for the Smoggies slipping away into the doldrums yet again.
Gaston Ramirez, their phenomenon playmaker, has forced the club in being on the receiving end of a lot of tantrums. Earlier this month, the Uruguayan handed a transfer request after being frustrated with the way Karanka had been deploying him out of his conventional playmaking slot and thus, he desires to conclude his association with Middlesbrough. There is a paramount need for targeting a player with notable calibre before allowing one of their key men to leave and apparently, Karanka seems to have found his man.
There is a rumour circling amongst the football fraternity that Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish is someone who has been bookmarked by Boro in order to lure him to the Riverside Stadium, should Ramirez leave the club. The extremely talented attacker has been in the scheme of things for Steve Bruce’s side so far this term, appearing 21 times, scoring 3 goals and 1 assist. Further, he has created 20 chances in the Championship and has completed 471 passes with a pass accuracy of 82%. So, can he be an alternative to Karanka in case his other transfer targets fail or can he fill the void if Ramirez leaves?
The 21-year-old is a typical no. 10. His positioning sense is spectacular, he is thoughtful, knows where to steer himself and twists and turns with relative ease. Although he doesn’t have quick feet, he makes it up with the way he technically guides his game and barely loses the ball whilst he surges forward. Dribbling and impeccable passing are one of the strongest suits he owns and thus, is an appreciable asset in the game.
There are a lot of traits in him that appeals and he is unarguably a good player in the making. Middlesbrough are in the dire need of attacking flair, and in Grealish, they would find a fearless attacking midfielder who can come really handy. Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland fans are accustomed to his stature and frankly speaking, Karanka would strike gold if he manages to lure Grealish into his ranks.
Statistics Credits: Squawka.
