The 'five or six' players Middlesbrough need to sign this summer to beef up their unbalanced squad

In the final few weeks of the 2019/20 season, Neil Warnock said he believes the club needs ‘five or six’ first-teamers who can improve the spine of an unbalanced group.

Warnock, who is still yet to be confirmed as Boro’s manager for next season, also said he would ideally play with a 4-3-3 formation, yet a lack of options made that difficult during Boro’s battle to avoid relegation.

Below is a breakdown of the Teessiders’ skeleton squad, highlighting the areas which clearly need addressing.

Goalkeepers

Dejan Stojanovic, Age: 27

Aynsley Pears, Age: 22

Tomas Mejias, Age: 31

There are more pressing issues to address, yet Boro’s lack of experience between the sticks shouldn’t be ignored.

Pears took his chance to impress last season following an injury to Darren Randolph, yet the academy graduate still looked raw at times and lost his place before lockdown.

That was when Stojanovic, who arrived in January, came into the side, yet despite making some crucial saves during the run-in, there were question marks over his positioning and other areas of his game.

Right-Back

Djed Spence, Age: 19

Anfernee Dijksteel, Age: 23

The pair only have 39 Championship appearances between them but have both shown they are more than capable at Championship level.

Spence’s emergence in December last year came at a key moment, as the teenager’s pace and energy allowed Boro to maximise the wing-back system.

Despite a difficult start to his Boro career, which included a long-term knee injury, Dijksteel also showed promising potential after returning to the starting XI when the season restarted.

Left-Back

Hayden Coulson, Age: 22

Marc Bola, Age: 22

An area which definitely needs strengthening.

Warnock regularly played Marvin Johnson on the left side of defence, and while the 29-year-old still might sign a new deal, it’s hard to see him as a long-term option there.

Even Coulson, who was one of Boro’s best players during the 2019/20 season, has performed better when he’s played further forward and saw his game time reduced under Warnock.

Whether Bola is finally ready to play a part at Championship level remains to be seen, following another loan spell with Blackpool in League One.

Centre-Back

Dael Fry, Age: 22

Sam Stubbs, Age: 21

Nathan Wood, Age: 18

Wow, Boro are desperately short at the back.

A couple of weeks ago, Warnock spoke about wanting someone who can lead from the heart of defence, like imposing centre-half Sean Morrison who he managed at Cardiff.

George Friend tried to step into that role after Warnock arrived and could often be heard shouting instructions to his team-mates in empty stadiums.

Friend, 32, showed he can still do a job at centre-back after impressing under Warnock, and could still be offered a new deal for next season.

Yet even if that does happen, Boro will definitely need, at the very least, another centre-back this summer.

Stubbs’ loan spells at SPL side Hamilton and ADO Den Haag in the top Dutch division, where he played regularly, may mean he is able to play a part.

Central Midfield

Jonny Howson, Age: 32

George Saville, Age: 27

Paddy McNair, Age: 25

Lewis Wing, Age: 25

Connor Malley, Age: 20

Ben Liddle, Age: 21

Hayden Hackney, Age: 18

An area where Boro do appear well stocked.

Saville and Howson started every game under Warnock until the latter’s red card against Cardiff ruled him out of the trip to Sheffield Wednesday.

McNair also provides energy and drive from midfield but has been linked with a move away from the Riverside in recent weeks.

Yet despite the options in central midfield, Boro are still lacking a Grant Leadbitter type character in the engine room, a natural leader who can keep everyone in check.

Wingers

Marcus Tavernier, Age: 21

Marcus Browne, Age: 22

You could also add Coulson to this list if Boro address the left-back issue, and potentially Johnson if he signs a new deal.

Even so, this sparse section shows exactly why Warnock, and Jonathan Woodgate, found it hard to play a 4-3-3 system.

Boro’s lack of pace and power dates back to when Tony Pulis was in charge and still hasn’t been addressed.

The emergence of Tavernier has helped this season, while Patrick Roberts’ loan arrival from Manchester City also provided some much-needed creativity.

Yet Boro often looked one-paced and short of ideas during a frustrating 2019/20 campaign, in which they finished as the Championship’s lowest scorers.

Strikers

Britt Assombaolonga, Age: 27

Ashley Fletcher, Age: 24

Tyrone O’Neill, Age: 20

Stephen Walker, Age: 19

If Boro do play 4-3-3 next season, they will probably operate with just one natural centre-forward.

Still, it’s believed Boro are already looking to strengthen in the final third, after Wigan striker Kieffer Moore was linked with a move to Teesside.

Whether such an arrival would mean players have to be sold remains to be seen.

Assombalonga, for example, only has one year left on his contract and has attracted interest in the past.

Whatever happens, it seems clear Boro do need some reinforcement in the final third – whether that be another central striker or a wide forward who can operate in a 4-3-3 set-up.

Conclusion

Plenty of work to do then.

Looking at the current squad, you could argue Boro definitely need two new centre-backs, a left-back, a couple of wingers and another striker.

The next few weeks will be crucial.

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