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Six Manchester United youngsters Carrick could use connections to land on loan for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough are looking to strengthen their squad this summer as they look to build on the foundations of last season during a brilliant run from 21st to making the play-offs.
The summer recruitment is likely to have to incorporate the fact that they lost six loanees at the end of last season, with four of them key first-team players. Carrick noted at the end of the season that it was the downside of such deals, with little long-term advantages in loan moves given the players return to parent clubs at the end.
But for a club in Boro’s financial position, loan deals also represent an opportunity to bring in quality that would otherwise be unavailable to them because of the cost of signing players of such calibre. While Boro would prefer permanent transfers this summer, they won’t completely rule out loan signings if the right opportunities arise.
READ MORE: Michael Carrick offers hint for Middlesbrough’s transfer policy this summer
In January they used Aaron Danks’ connections to capture both Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey, with the Aston Villa duo playing key roles in Boro’s run to the play-offs. This summer, Boro could once again use the connections of their coaching team to add to their squad, with Manchester United an obvious place for Carrick to look given his many years at the club as both a player and a coach.
Boro have already been linked with moves for Ethan Galbraith and Brandon Williams, neither of which are believed to actually interest the club. But with Erik ten Hag looking to strengthen this summer and potentially needing to get talented youngsters out on loan so as not to stifle their development, Boro might be able to take advantage of it. While they obviously won’t get every player on this list, we’ve looked at six who would suit what Boro need while likely being available this summer.
Alvaro Fernandez
Boro will need a new left-back this summer after Ryan Giles’ loan spell came to an end. In an ideal world, they’d love to sign Giles permanently, but competition from elsewhere could see the 23-year-old’s valuation rise to an unaffordable level for them.
Boro will need alternative options then and Alvaro Fernandez could be one to keep an eye on after an impressive season at Preston North End that saw him named Young Player of the Year, one year after being named Manchester United’s U23 Player of the Year.
An attack-minded left full-back, Fernandez, 20, fits the bill and is also familiar with Carrick having trained with the first-team while the Boro head coach was still at Old Trafford. After his success in the Championship, talk in Manchester is of trying to secure a lower-end Premier League move this summer with Ten Hag well-stocked at left-back. But if they don’t get interest from a top-flight club, could connections to Carrick play into Boro’s hands?
Kobbie Mainoo
After losing Alex Mowatt at the end of his loan spell, Boro are likely in need of another central midfielder this summer. However, the desire would be for a permanent signing as they seek a long-term replacement for Jonny Howson who is now likely to be preparing for his final season in a Boro shirt.
Mainoo is really highly thought of at Man Utd and is credited with being the reason why Old Trafford chiefs have been willing to sell fellow midfield prospect Zidane Iqbal to FC Utrecht this summer. Ten Hag is likely to take a closer look at Mainoo this summer, but with Mason Mount expected to sign, he might find opportunities limited and need to head out on loan.
The 18-year-old is described as a box-to-box midfielder and made three appearances for the Red Devils last term. He clearly has plenty of talent, but whether he’d be ideal for Boro right now, given their desire to find a long-term Howson replacement, is the question.
Hannibal Mejbri
If Boro did want to look towards a young Manchester United midfielder who they could potentially have hope for signing permanently in the future then Hannibal Mejbri could fit the bill. The Tunisian international spent the season on loan at Birmingham last term and proved himself a solid prospect.
Mobile and niggly but also a competent on the ball, Hannibal would represent a closer match in terms of Howson’s defensive responsibilities. While by no means a world-beater yet, his talents have reportedly caught the attention of Dortmund in Germany, but United might decide against a sale at this stage and instead opt for another loan.
In such a case, Boro could make a savvy decision to bring him in, with the prospect of then signing him permanently in a year’s time. There would be no guarantee that would be possible, but his pathway at Old Trafford looks difficult and the Boro move would allow him 12 months to further develop under Carrick’s tutelage while learning from Howson, with the long-term goal of filling his shoes when the veteran does eventually call time on his Boro career.
Facundo Pellistri
Boro will need at least one wide forward this summer after losing Aaron Ramsey at the end of his loan spell. Pellistri could be an interesting option, with the young forward seemingly unlikely to breakthrough into United’s first-team in the next 12 months, but clearly too good for under-21 football.
Though Pellistri didn’t debut during Carrick’s time on the coaching staff in the north west he was a regular in first-team training and also played pre-season games. Stepping up since then to make ten first-team appearances, the next step in the 21-year-old’s development could be a season-long loan.
Fast, brave on the ball and inventive, Pellistri would really add something to Boro’s attack. His recent assist for Uruguay while on international duty highlighted his potential as he ran practically the length of the field on the counter-attack before playing his team-mate in behind to score.
Amad
Amad spent the season on loan at Sunderland last term and was really impressive for Tony Mowbray’s side to help them make the play-offs. The young Ivorian is now set to return to Manchester where Ten Hag is set to take a closer look at the 20-year-old to see if he is ready for their first-team.
If not, then another loan move looks likely and it’s fair to say there is plenty of competition for places at Manchester United for his position. Reports suggest he would prefer to return to Sunderland if he were to leave on loan again, but might that change if Boro entered the race?
Carrick worked with Amad during his time at Old Trafford and spoke ahead of January’s clash with Sunderland about his quality – something he went on to prove as Boro suffered defeat on Wearside. With pace, determination and an eye for goal, Amad would certainly fit the bill and improve Boro’s forward line.
Shola Shoretire
While the previous two forwards would be ambitious moves, perhaps more attainable would be a move for 19-year-old forward Shola Shoretire – another who Carrick would have worked with in first-team training at United. The Boro boss was also part of the coaching team that handed him his debut, making him the seventh-youngest-ever player to debut for the club, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying he deserved it after training so well.
Since then, Shoretire has made five first-team appearances at Old Trafford and spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton. He scored one goal in 16 appearances, and while he didn’t set the world on fire in League One, there were flashes of his talent during that time. With first-hand knowledge and history with the young forward, Carrick could get the best out of him at Boro.
Interestingly, Shoretire is from the North East having been born in Newcastle and coming through Wallsend Boys Club, just like Carrick did as a youngster. He had short spells with Newcastle, Sunderland and Manchester City as a youth before joining United aged nine before progressing right through their youth ranks.
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