Josh Coburn transfer decision Tommy Conway competition – Middlesbrough strikers review..
Middlesbrough have added a new striker to their priority transfer list this summer, but Josh Coburn might yet have something to say about that.
As things stand, Boro plan to sign a striker in the summer transfer window as they seek to add fresh competition for Tommy Conway. The Scotland international arrived at the club last summer from Bristol City and enjoyed a successful first season on Teesside, finishing as the top scorer with 13 goals and an impressive goals per minute ratio.
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Now well-established at the club and proving himself a big character in the dressing room, there is hope that, still only 22, there is still plenty more to come from Conway in a Boro shirt. Despite that, adequate competition will still be needed to keep him on his toes.
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Boro lost Emmanuel Latte Lath in the January transfer window and their replacement in Kelechi Iheanacho proved a bit of a disaster. Just one goal and a limited impact all round despite his popularity in general around the club, Boro won’t be pursuing anything further with the Sevilla striker, with the terms of the loan not tying Boro to any obligations.
Instead, Boro will be looking elsewhere for a striker this summer and they’re already said to have a top target in mind. While the identity of that player is not yet known, they could decide to rekindle their interest in Slovakian international David Strelec this summer after his recent admission that he’s open to a move, while current club Slovan Bratislava left the door open.
Rocky-Jade Jones has been previously scouted too, and he leaves Peterborough this summer (albeit with compensation due to Posh after their offer of a new deal was turned down by the young prospect).
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While the identity of Boro’s top target will be kept under wraps for as long as Boro’s recruitment staffers possibly can in order to minimise the likelihood of other clubs getting wind of a deal and trying to hijack it, Coburn will return to the club this summer and will hope to change plans on Teesside.
With Boro set to sign a striker this summer, it likely means that the plan is to sell the academy graduate this summer. It follows a loan spell at Millwall in which injury limited the 22-year-old’s overall impact. That said, he showed enough while at the Den for the Lions to make clear their intentions to sign him permanently this summer.
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If Coburn could end the injury troubles that have plagued his last two seasons, there are few even at Boro who doubt the potential that he has. However, there are doubts over his injury record and also his suitability to Michael Carrick’s ideal way of playing. With that in mind, and given a sale would significantly help Boro’s financial position this summer, a sale has it’s plus points.
However, given Coburn’s potential, Boro will be at risk of allowing a top prospect to slip through their fingers too easily. Particularly given his age and frame, it’s possible that the injuries will soon clear up as his body begins to develop and he gets more used to the demands of senior football.
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