Middlesbrough still tracking attacking 'jewel' but targeting Championship players says Neil Warnock

The Boro boss revealed earlier this week that himself and Boro Chief Executive Neil Bausor were planning to go and watch the aforementioned prospect overseas, yet travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have caused complications.

Warnock is still hopeful the Teessiders can bring in a couple of players when the transfer window reopens next month but expects deals to be done domestically.

When asked about the attacking wide player Boro have been tracking, Warnock told the Mail: “I’m not going to be able to go and I don’t think Kevin (Blackwell) and Ronnie (Jepson) are.

“We have another chap who goes to watch players like that and he might go abroad and watch the two games that we were going to watch.

“I think it might be difficult to come from abroad now for three months to come and settle in and play well.

“It might be better to think about the summer when you have a bit of time. If they want to go ahead when they’ve seen the two games, he does look a bit of a jewel, it’s up to them but I don’t think the fans or the club should expect too much if this player comes in.”

"If you come from a really hot climate to Middlesbrough, you can’t expect the world. I think for our needs at the moment we are probably better getting someone from the Championship and then think about that further down the line.”

While assessing their footballing ability, Warnock likes to speak with potential signings to learn about their personality and character.

That can also be challenging when the player doesn’t speak English, yet Warnock says the early signs have been encouraging regarding Boro’s latest target.

“The recruitment team spotted him,” Warnock added. “They know I will go English if I can so most of the people we have looked at, I have told them about. I’m not a massive stats fan.

“I look at Brentford and they do all their things on stats but they still paid £10million for Toney, he wasn’t on their stats from Peterborough and he is the best one in the league.

“I spoke to this lad and he doesn’t speak much English so I had an interpreter with me and we had a bit of a laugh at the same time.

“I told him about the club and what I see in him and I think he’d enjoy it. He seemed a good lad and if you have someone who can talk to him that helps.

“In this particular case I don’t know enough about the character. We have made enquiries, we like what we’ve heard but the lad doesn’t speak English.

“I watched him and thought if you’re as good as that I’ll have him so it’s a matter of just seeing if someone goes across from the 6th to 10th of January.”

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