Potentially, one of Middlesbrough’s summer moves in 2024 will be the key to a player’s 2024–2025 season of maximum potential.
This summer, Middlesbrough has been busy making transfers, having already signed three new players.
So far, Steve Gibson has supported Michael Carrick’s request to wrap up most of his summer business early in order to prevent a repeat of the 2023 window.
The three new players signed by Boro are Delano Burgzorg from Mainz 05, Luke Ayling from Leeds United, and Aidan Morris from Columbus Crew.
But perhaps the best thing the North East team can do this summer is hang onto its best players from the previous campaign.
The absence of the Teessiders from the playoffs in 2023–2024 was mostly due to players like Chubby Akpom,
Said players were all key to Boro reaching the play-off semi-finals the season prior and Carrick needed time to replace them.
In the current window, however, Middlesbrough have so far been able to maintain the likes of Rav van den Berg, Hayden Hackney, and Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Rav van den Berg was key player for Middlesbrough last season
Van den Berg was among Middlesbrough’s top players during the previous season, as was already established.
The 19-year-old made an immediate impression on Teesside after joining from PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands.
Despite having little experience, the defender fit in into Boro’s back line; Carrick called him “terrific,” according to Teesside Live.
“I’m really impressed,” he remarked. He’s a fantastic person with a wonderful attitude, amazing character, and a really grounded and humble demeanour.
“He has a very soothing presence and exudes a positive sense of self-assurance.”
In addition, Van den Berg won the support of the Middlesbrough supporters by winning Player of the Year in 2023–2024.
Luke Ayling can unlock Van den Berg potential
Van den Berg’s first season in the North East was successful, but it could have been far better.
Due to injury concerns during the first half of 2023–24, the centre back was had to play right back 14 times in the previous season.
However, Carrick’s problems in that area should now be resolved thanks to the permanent signing of Ayling from Leeds throughout the summer.
In the latter half of 2023–2024, Ayling became a loanee of the team, which enabled Van den Berg to revert to his natural position at centre defence.
The fact that Boro has only dropped one of their previous 12 league games when Ayling and the Dutchman were on the same team is not by accident.
The Leeds native will now spend an entire game at the Riverside
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