Middlesbrough will be fairly chuffed with their first Premier League transfer window after a seven-year wait. It was widely expected the pragmatic Aitor Karanka would be looking to keep his core same and add garnishing on the sides in his quest to set-up camp in the Premier League. But he has smashed through all the notions and assumptions. Boro were one of the most active clubs in the market initially and their transfer activity put other clubs to shame before the Manchester clubs came waltzing into the party. Middlesbrough have pulled off some audacious signings and only time will tell whether their route map has been right or not.
TRANSFERS
INS
Marten de Roon- Atalanta £12m; Viktor Fischer- Ajax £4m; Álvaro Negredo- Valencia (loan); Calum Chambers- Arsenal (loan); Víctor Valdés- Manchester United (free); Brad Guzan- Aston Villa (free); Gastón Ramírez- Southampton (free); Adama Traoré- Aston Villa (undisclosed); Antonio Barragan – Valencia £3m; Fabio Da Silva – Cardiff £2m; Bernardo Espinosa – Sporting Gijon (free);
OUTS
Damia Abella – (released); Rhys Williams – Perth Glory (free); Jonathan Burn – Kilmarnock (loan); Jordan Jones – Kilmarnock (free); Luke Coddington – Huddersfield (free); Andre Bennett – (released); Conor Ripley – Oldham (loan); Harry Chapman – Sheffield United (loan); Adam Jackson – Barnsley (undisclosed); Bradley Fewster – Hartletpool (loan); Mustapha Carayol – Nottingham Forest (undisclosed); Adam Reach – Sheffield Wednesday (£5m); Alex Baptiste – Preston (loan); Albert Adomah – Aston Villa (undisclosed)
SOURCE: Sky Sports
WHAT KARANKA GOT RIGHT
For harbouring any hopes of survival in the super-competitive League this time around they needed an overall upgrade in quality. And a single look at their signings illustrates that they have been fairly successful in that regard. Alvaro Negredo’s signing has been a statement of intent and he will be key to their fortunes this season. Making Ramirez’s loan move permanent has also been a shrewd move. They have got undoubted calibre in their goalkeeping department in the form of Victor Valdes and Brad Guzan. Marten de Roon will key once fit. And they addressed their creativity from the wing in the signing of Traore and will hope the former Villa man settles in quickly. But what could probably be the most important signing defense wise has been the coup of Calum Chambers. The boy has huge potential and will be eager to prove a point or two.
WHAT HE MIGHT NOT HAVE
In accordance with their ambitions, they seem to have shopped sensibly and put up a team with healthy competition in all the positions. While they could have contemplated adding to their central defensive reserves, the manager clearly has faith in his returning captain and the other options at his disposal.
