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Report highlights Middlesbrough’s January transfer priorities

Manager of Middlesbrough, Tony Pulis gives his team instructions during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Middlesbrough and Brighton a...
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Middlesbrough have only signed Rajiv van La Parra this month.

Manager of Middlesbrough, Tony Pulis gives his team instructions during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Middlesbrough and Brighton at Riverside Stadium on January 27, 2018...

According to a report in the Northern Echo, Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis has made signing another wide player and a new left-back as his top priorities this month.

The report claims Boro have missed out on a couple of targets over the past week, but Pulis and the recruitment team are working hard to complete more deals in a bid to boost the club’s promotion hopes.

Boro are currently sitting in fifth position in the Championship table, eight points behind league leaders Leeds United and six adrift of second-place Norwich City with 20 games remaining.

The Teesside club’s biggest strength this season has been their excellent defence, conceding just 18 league goals in 26 games. Scoring, however, has been an issue and only four teams have scored fewer.

The arrival of Rajiv van La Parra is smart business as Boro have lacked a pacey wide player since the departure of Adama Traore in the summer and targeting another makes sense following Martin Braithwaite’s recent exit.

Rajiv van La Parra of Huddersfield Town looks to get a shot away under a challenge from James McArthur of Crystal Palace  during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and...

But making a new left-back, even as back-up to George Friend, a priority is questionable when Southampton loanee Sam McQueen is capable of playing there as is Ryan Shotton and arguably Paddy McNair.

Boro need to add more goals to their side, either via more creativity in the final third or a proper goal scorer who can regularly find the net – something Britt Assombalonga and Jordan Hugill have struggled with, scoring just 11 goals between them in a combined 42 appearances.

Britt Assombalonga (L) and Rudy Gestede (R) of Middlesbrough after a missed chance for their team during the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough at City...