The transfer challenges Middlesbrough are facing as Neil Warnock targets Premier League winger

Due to financial limitations and the unpredictable footballing landscape caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Teessiders, like many EFL clubs, are looking at players who are available on loan from Premier League sides.

The challenge, therefore, is finding someone who isn’t playing regularly in the top flight but is still good enough to make a difference at Championship level.

Boro boss Neil Warnock won’t want to sign someone to come in and sit on Boro’ bench, and - especially if it’s a younger player - top-flight clubs will want their prospects to progress.

Despite Boro’s thin squad, regular game time will be hard to guarantee for a wide player due to the form of Marvin Johnson and Marcus Tavernier.

Warnock was quick to cool reports that Boro are one of the clubs interested in Tottenham winger Jack Clarke last week, a player who hardly featured during recent loan spells at Leeds and QPR.

Yet Warnock is still keen to add another string to Boro’s bow, especially as games come thick and fast in the second half of the campaign.

When asked by the Mail about Boro’s winger pursuit ahead of Saturday’s game at Brentford, Warnock said: “I think we need a different type of winger.

"I wouldn’t say Marcus is a winger, even Marv I wouldn’t say he’s an out and out winger.

“We just need someone a little bit different who can take full-backs on and can do something different and that’s what I’m looking for to supplement them.”

It’s also become harder for English clubs to sign players from abroad due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic and the UK’s exit from the EU.

The pool of players Boro are looking at has therefore been reduced, while Premier League clubs are waiting to see how their transfer windows develop before sending players out on loan.

Two names which have been mentioned are those of Everton’s Yannick Bolasie and West Brom’s Kamil Grosicki.

Bolasie was close to joining the Teessiders in October and remains surplus to requirements at Goodison Park.

It seems a perfect fit, especially as Warnock worked with the winger at Crystal Palace, yet the 31-year-old has spoken about wanting a long-term project at his next club. The longer it goes on, there is more doubt over a move to Teesside.

Warnock also admitted last week Boro may be able to negotiate a swap deal to bring in a player they want – a strategy which may become more popular among EFL clubs.

Marcus Browne’s injury setback will only increase the Teessiders’ need to sign another winger this month, with the extent of the attacker’s knee injury still unclear.

Ideally Boro would have been able to make a new signing at the start of January, yet it’s been a slow start to the window for most Championship clubs.

The Teessiders and their league rivals will hope business picks up in the weeks to come.

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