Middlesbrough have conducted plenty of business, as they prepared to make their return to the Premier League.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka before the match
It has been a busy summer of transfer business for Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka and his staff, as they attempted to equip the team with the right players in order to ensure their survival in the top flight.
The total number of incomings came to 12, featuring players in all areas of the pitch. Some have already began their Middlesbrough careers as Boro have got off to a flyer in the league, and some arrived just before the window slammed shut.
Some high-profile names catch the eye
Boro have been able to attract some of the most decorated players the club has ever had to the Riverside Stadium this summer.
New goalkeeper Victor Valdes brings with him a wealth of experience, along with just about every winners’ medal a player could get his hands on. Alvaro Negredo, who has Premier League experience after a spell with Manchester City, signed on loan from Valencia, And let’s not forget that new left-back Fabio, signed from Cardiff, also has got his hands on the Premier League trophy before.
Middlesbrough undoubtedly had a good squad before the start of the window, but if the promoted group of players needed some teammates with a bit of know how at the top level, then signings like Valdes certainly fit that bill.
He can impart experience amongst the squad, and also spread a real buzz amongst the fans, who are not exactly accustomed to such illustrious names playing on Teesside in recent times.
The return of Gaston Ramirez
In January of last year, Boro took a punt on a loan deal for out-of-favour Southampton attacking midfielder Gaston Ramirez, after he had been cast out of the Saints first-team picture.
He had had a previous unsuccessful loan spell with Hull, and many fans were questioning whether his style was suited to English football. However, Ramirez was a total revelation at the Riverside, and provided the creative spark that Boro were lacking in their forward positions.
With the player’s contract running out this summer, supporters demanded that he be brought back to the club permanently. There were some complications involved in the deal, with Ramirez having to apply for a new work permit to play for Boro, but eventually the Uruguayan was granted permission to play in England, and Boro got their man without paying a penny in transfer fees.
In the opening fixture against Stoke, Ramirez marked the occasion by delivering a sensational performance, and in doing so highlighted how important a player he is going to be this season. He is the man that Boro look to to provide imagination in attack, and will be responsible for plenty of Middlesbrough’s goals this season – as long as he stays fit. A great bit of business from Karanka to bring Gaston back.
Investing in young prospects
As well as bringing in some familiar names to the Boro squad, boss Aitor Karanka has also completed deals for some young talents that will be hoping to make an impact this season.
22-year-old Viktor Fischer has joined from Ajax, after some time away from football due to injury. Boro also completed the deadline day signing of ex-Barcelona youth academy graduate Adama Traore from Aston Villa, who struggled to get first-team action during his spell with the Birmingham club, but has undeniable potential.
Another piece of business that could be considered a real coup for Middlesbrough is the loan signing of young English defender Calum Chambers from Arsenal, a versatile defensive player with an England cap to his name. He will provide competition to Boro’s traditional centre-back pairing of Dani Ayala and Ben Gibson, who performed so well in the Championship last year.
Other highlights of the window include a promising £14 million signing of Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon from Atalanta, who picked up a hamstring injury in Boro’s season opener, but arrives with rave reviews from Italy. Meanwhile, the biggest departure was that of Albert Adomah, who rejected the offer of a new contract at the Riverside and opted to join Championship side Aston Villa on deadline day.
Verdict
It has been a summer full of eye-catching deals at the Riverside, and fans are optimistic that the squad now has enough quality to avoid the drop this year. There is tangible excitement on Teesside surrounding their prolific summer spending, and fans have raised their expectations for the season accordingly.
The fresh faces will need to gel quickly, but it is important that Aitor Karanka has kept some of the mainstays of the promoted team in the side this year – the likes of George Friend, Adam Clayton and Stewart Downing.
Time will tell if the mix of homegrown determination and flair from overseas can marry to result in a survival season for Middlesbrough, after so long out of the Premier League.
Grade: B+
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