Premier League newcomers, Middlesbrough, are very much in the scheme of things in the lower end of the league table. The Smoggies are hovering marginally above the relegation zone: somewhere they might not have fancied belonging, prior to a handful number of games.
Their good form has ceased to exist and their latest 3-1 thrashing at the hands of West Ham United gave the latest reminder to us that their life in the top tier is in serious jeopardy.
More than any other flaws running through their veins, it is their newly developed blunt attitude attacking wise which has brought a lot of instability to the club. The ongoing transfer window is an excellent chance for Aitor Karanka to lay his hands on assets they thoroughly require to lure to the Riverside Stadium as they move into the climax end of the season. RB Leipzig’s Oliver Burke is one of the players to be linked to Middlesbrough at the moment.
The 19-year-old winger is currently the only Scottish player to ply his trade in the German Bundesliga. In the summer of 2016, he became the most expensive Scottish player when RB Leipzig acquired him from Nottingham Forest for a whopping £13m, but the Scotsman hasn’t had the best of his times in Germany. Burke has been handed merely one start so far this league campaign, and in a total of 14 appearances, he has scored a goal, bagged a couple of assists and created five chances.
Karanka’s side needs quality in their mercenaries in the middle of the park and Burke can cater to their needs perfectly. There are many fascinating traits in his that make him stand out. He is young, mobile, and technically sound, physically fit and has the technical know-how of the game in his head. He sets an example on the flanks with his continuous trajectory of toiling meticulously up and down the flanks and trying to create chances with his crosses.
Considering that Karanka’s midfield veteran, Gastón Ramíez, is pursuing an outlet and thus vouching his options available, the roping of someone like Burke thus holds paramount importance as a proactive measure in case the Uruguayan leaves.
The starlet is undoubtedly a high class prodigy and can make an immediate impact in the Premier League with the class he possesses. The Smoggies should try to strike a deal, at least on loan for the rest of the season, to grab this serial outcast and derive full utility out of him.
Statistics Credits: Squawka.
