Middlesbrough step up transfer hunt as Neil Warnock assesses overseas targets

Warnock believes he has a strong core of players at the Riverside but is preparing for changes, with five players set to be out of contract and a further three nearing the end of their loan deals.

Boro have struggled to scout players from abroad since Warnock’s arrival due to travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Yet with hopes that restrictions will ease this summer, Warnock is optimistic that himself, as well as assistants Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson, will be able to watch more games live.

When asked about looking at players for next season, Warnock replied: “We are talking all the time and the staff, Ronnie Jepson has been abroad looking at a couple of games and he has to go in quarantine now so he won’t be on the bench on Wednesday night unfortunately.

“It’s important that myself, Kevin and Ronnie see a few players ourselves now and try to come up with the right answers and what we believe is right.

“It’s going to be difficult, the three teams that get relegated from the Premier League will have masses of money to throw away, you will have three of the play-off teams still in the division.

“I would imagine we will be something like 12th or 13th with the bookies so to put it in perspective. That’s what makes it so exciting, I want to give the fans something to shout about next season.”

With four games remaining and little to play for in terms of Boro’s divisional status, Warnock admits the next few weeks will be challenging when some players are preparing to leave.

However, the Boro boss believes the club will be able to kick on next term.

“All these excuses about his contract is up, their contract is up, they will all be my players next year and even the ones who have been here a while will still be my players and why I want to crack on from day one.

“We want to get players in sooner rather than later.”

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