Why Neil Warnock believes Middlesbrough's new transfer targets could be better than their original ones as he opens up on recent negotiations

The Boro boss portrayed an optimistic figure during Thursday’s press conference, despite the club’s lack of signings and struggles to push deals over the line.

Centre-back Grant Hall is the only player who has joined the Teessiders since the end of last season while nine players, including loans, have left the club.

Boro have tried to sign striker Kieffer Moore, midfielder Joe Williams and defender Charlie Goode over the last month, yet the aforementioned players have joined Cardiff, Bristol City and Brentford respectively.

When asked by the Mail about the players Boro have missed out on, Warnock replied: “Yeah Joe Williams we spoke to them for about four weeks as well and it’s just disappointing when you try and get these players and they go elsewhere.

“I’m not too concerned to be honest, I think as one door closes another door opens and I’m quite excited at the ones we are looking at signing now which probably weren’t our choices originally.

“I think it could have worked out better for us and I know it’s not what I wanted, I wanted four in before we started training but I don't think we could have done anymore than what we have done in these last few weeks, pre-season has been excellent.

This summer’s departures has left Boro’s squad looking extremely thin ahead of next week’s Championship opener against Watford, yet Warnock has been impressed, and even surprised, by those still at the club.

“I’m not too disappointed about losing out on these players because we have a very good squad at the minute and to add to that would be excellent really,” Warnock added.

"If we don’t get anyone before next Friday, I’m happy to go with the squad I’ve got. You forget how young some of these lads are. I think what I’ve noticed more is how tentative they are when I’m talking.

"We’ve looked at videos this morning about last year’s games when they made mistakes, mistakes in the league matches that we played, not just pre-season training.

“They’ve really come to the forefront and I must say I am surprised by the quality of the football that they’ve played.

"I’ve given them a free rein within a structure because you know me I want them to be organised, in the Championship you have to be organised but I want them to enjoy it.

“I want to enjoy watching my team play, I want to enjoy exciting football and everything that goes with it because it’s a fabulous club up here.”

Warnock still thinks the Teessiders can make another signing ahead of the Watford match but was slightly reluctant to talk about specific players after seeing potential deals collapse.

The Boro boss did confirm the club have held talks with former Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo, though, and praised reported target Kenneth Zohore.

When asked why Boro have failed to complete deals this summer, Warnock replied: “I think it’s a mixture of things.

"I think agents can push players one particular way, not always in the player’s best interest. Sometimes money comes into it, you can’t blame the agents really as they have a job to do.

“It might be me, you don’t know, they might not want to play for me but I can't imagine that.”

Warnock also says the coronavirus pandemic has altered players’ values this year, yet agents and clubs have failed to adjust their estimations.

“I don’t think agents have realised yet that players aren’t going to be on the gravy train anymore," said Warnock. "It’s a reality check really.

“I went after a player a three weeks ago, I spoke to the guy in charge of the club and asked about the player, the hierarchy, they came back and told me he wanted £1.5 million.

“I said, ‘Well I value him at about £400k me, so good luck to you.’ This week they’ve come back and said we’ll take £500k now, but I said, ‘It’s too late now I don’t want him.”

Boro may also have to dip into the loan market to bolster their squad, yet even temporary deals are proving tricky to complete.

When Warnock spoke to the press around a month ago he said the club’s top loan target wouldn’t become available until the end of August.

A few weeks later that deal is off the table and once again Boro have been forced to look at alternatives.

“The target I wanted, the main loan player that I wanted, I’ve now been told they want £3.5million and don’t want to loan him out,” admitted Warnock.

“I don’t think he’s worth £3.5million so we won’t be getting him.”

Boro will now turn their attention to today’s Carabao Cup match against Shrewsbury after beating Newcastle 5-1 in a training match at Rockliffe earlier this week.

The Teessiders were set to face the Magpies again in another warm-up match on Monday but have now called the game off due to the risk of injuries.

“We just both decided that we'd had enough,” explained Warnock. “That game was a really competitive game.

"We were going to do the under-23s and give the players who haven't had many minutes a run-out against their first team.”

"But poor old Steve (Bruce) has got about seven injuries I think now for the Stoke City game, so it's just not worth the risk of getting any more injuries."

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