Middlesbrough have been the biggest spenders in the Championship this summer. They have spent over £43 million and have also smashed their transfer record when they signed Britt Assombalonga for £15 million from Nottingham Forest.
As well as Britt Assombalonga, Boro have signed quality players like Martin Braithwaite from Toulouse and Darren Randolph from West Ham United. Middlesbrough are even still signing players today. Boro have finally signed Ryan Shotton from Birmingham and they also look to be completing a deal for Oxford Winger Marvin Johnson in the coming hours.
However, after wrapping up the signing of Johnson, Middlesbrough are not looking to add any more signings. Here is why that is a huge mistake.
Granted you may look at Boro signing 10 new players and overall it looks like a great summer. They have signed a top quality keeper, a decent right back for the first time in years and a goal scorer in Britt Assombalonga.
But if Middlesbrough ends their transfer business with Johnson they could be in serious trouble. That is because they have failed to address the position that has plagued them since last season, the central attacking midfielder spot.
Middlesbrough’s last decent number 10 was Gaston Ramirez. Ramirez fell out with Aitor Karanka in January and has not been the same player since then. This left Boro without a playmaker in the Premier League for most of the season. It was also a major reason why they were relegated. Gaston Ramirez has since moved on and therefore you would think Boro would go out and find a replacement. Despite making 10 signings they haven’t done so.
Lewis Baker, who Boro have on loan from Chelsea may play there. But he is a not a true number 10. Patrick Bamford has taken up a sort of right wing/ CAM role this season for Middlesbrough. But once again he does not have the natural ability Gaston Ramirez has to find a key pass and break a team down. Even new signing Marvin Johnson is not a good enough replacement. Johnson plays mostly as a left winger and has played just one game if his career as a CAM.
One player Boro were looking to sign to replace Ramirez was Brentford’s Jota. However, after having a bid rejected a few days ago from Boro, Monk looks set to miss out on the Spaniard to Championship rivals Fulham.
This is a huge mistake by Monk and Middlesbrough. They should do whatever they can to sign Jota on deadline day. Because Jota is exactly what Boro need as he is the perfect number 10. He is an excellent goal scorer, managing 12 in 21 games last season. He also gets lots of assists managing five in half a season for Brentford. Jota has the flair, vision and ability Boro need from a number 10. The fact they are looking to not sign him on deadline day is mad. Especially given Brentford’s valuation. Brentford value Jota at around £8 million which in this market and for Boro is an absolute steal given Jota’s ability and how key he would be to Boro.
Even if Middlesbrough do not go for Jota, they must sign a central attacking midfielder on deadline day. The fact they haven’t got one when they’ve needed one since January is madness. They lacked creativity last season and if Monk doesn’t get a new number 10 in before the window shuts they are going to be lacking it again.
To give you an idea of how much Boro needs to sign a CAM before deadline day ends, you just need to look at Boro’s big chances created. So far this season Ruddy Gestede is top of that list with three chances created. This is Ruddy Gestede the striker who is playing mostly out of position and didn’t even start against Wolves. In any good side, you should really want your CAM to be top of that list. However, Boro does not have one so it is left to a striker who isn’t exactly known for his playmaking ability to create the chances.
Furthermore, despite being free of Aitor Karanka’s defensive shackles and signing goal scorers such as Britt Assombalonga, Boro are still struggling to score goals. They’ve managed just four this season in the Championship. Only Birmingham and Preston have scored less. This is because Middlesbrough are A) struggling to break teams down and B) to connect play from midfield to attack. A problem that would be very easily fixed by signing a number 10. Something they need to do before tomorrow’s window shuts.
