Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie says Middlesbrough are set to complete the £1.5million signing of Dan Barlaser from Rotherham United before Tuesday’s deadline – after the midfielder left Newcastle in the summer of 2020.
Barlaser, 26, was on the books at Newcastle from 2006 – just nine years old. He rose into the senior side to play five times for Newcastle – while also going out on loan to Crewe and Accrington. Then, in 2019, he joined Rotherham.
Initially on loan, he joined permanently a year later. Now, after three and a half years at Rotherham, he is to return to the North East – but with Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough. It comes after starring for the Championship club.
Indeed, Barlaser has played 151 times in all competitions for Rotherham – having a hand in 42 goals from midfield. This season, he has two goals and seven assists in 30 outings. That has tempted Middlesbrough to make a move.
Carrick has backed his side to pay Rotherham a fee of £1.5million to land Barlaser – who represented Turkey at U17 level and then England at U18. Downie reports a fee will be an initial £900,000, and a further £600,000 in add-ons.
Downie: Middlesbrough set to complete £1.5million signing of Barlaser
Barlaser has become one of the Championship’s most-consistent midfielders outside of the play-off chasing clubs and has deserved a big move like this one for a while. His form from the middle has been excellent during 2022-23.
Now, he is getting his chance. While the play-off race is incredible in the Championship – with seven points between third and 14th place – Boro sit in sixth. Carrick is doing a superb job. Boro is the ideal move for Barlaser this month.
Boro are also getting themselves a bargain. Barlaser is out of contract in June and that has forced Rotherham to sell one of their best players. To get him for an initial fee of less than £1million is superb work from Middlesbrough.
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