2 players Middlesbrough must sign to boost their promotion hopes
Middlesbrough are now third on the Championship table after the 1-1 draw vs Preston yesterday.
Boro have been excellent so far this season, with manager Tony Pulis overseeing a massive improvement in the defence and effectiveness in the attack. Pulis has always been a defensive manager renowned for setting up his teams defensively and hitting the opposition on the counter. That has seen Middlesbrough enjoy the best defensive record in the Championship.
However, Middlesbrough are not a complete squad and need at least a couple of players more to mount a significant promotion challenge. That being said, here are two players Middlesbrough should sign in January to bolster their promotion hopes.
Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City)
Mame Biram Diouf has been in and out of the Stoke City team under Gary Rowett. So a move away from the club in January would be a wise choice for the Senegalese.
Diouf, 30, with his pace and movement, could give more potency to Middlesbrough’s attack. He hasn’t been a prolific goalscorer in his career but he could offer something different to Boro’s play in the final third. Moreover, the Senegal international’s versatility to play out wide could also come handy for Pulis.
For a typical goal-shy Pulis team, signing another attacker would definitely be valuable. Hence, Boro must make an attempt to sign Diouf in January.
Georges Kevin-Nkoudou (Tottenham Hotspur)
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou has become a forgotten man at Tottenham, having not started a single Premier League game for the North Londoners this season.
The Frenchman spent the second half of last season on loan with Burnley, where he failed to do enough to earn more playing time with Tottenham. As Nkoudou is clearly out of favour under Mauricio Pochettino, he should leave Spurs in January, permanently or on loan.
Middlesbrough must try to bring Nkoudou on loan in January to bolster their wide department. Pace is what Middlesbrough have lacked this season following the departure of Adama Traore to Wolves earlier in the summer.
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On that aspect, Nkoudou would bring plenty of pace and freshness to the Middlesbrough attack while also adding depth to the squad. Hence, Pulis should do everything in his powers to get the jet-heeled Frenchman to the Riverside Stadium.