Two Replacements For Gaston Ramirez Who Middlesbrough Can Target
Real Betis are looking to push through a move for Middlesbrough midfielder Gaston Ramirez this week and it seems Middlesbrough are receptive to letting him leave.
The 26-year-old Uruguayan has been at the club for a year-and-a-half including his loan stay from Southampton, hitting 9 goals in 44 games from midfield, in an overall successful spell at the Riverside. Garry Monk, despite some ambitious and excellent signings, knows fully well that not every squad member wants to stay after relegation and Ramirez leaving Boro seems to be inevitable now.
His ability to score goals from midfield would make a huge difference to Boro at Championship level though and so he will leave a big gap, one which should be filled as soon as possible and the below players are just two of them who could do that; no problem.
Jota (Brentford)
Despite his obvious quality and Premier League potential, expected bids from the top league are yet to materialise for the Spaniard and he may yet be available to other Championship sides.
Boro would be one of only two or three clubs at this level who could attract the player and also afford him, so this potential move is one to watch. Jota scored 12 goals from just 19 Championship starts last season at Griffin Park from his midfield position which is truly an excellent output.
As we’ve mentioned of before, Brentford are always willing to accept bids for their better players and are happy to see them move on, so a permanent deal to take Jota away over the next couple of weeks is still very much on the cards.
Tom Lawrence (Leicester City)
Lawrence finds himself in that rather awkward ‘in-between’ stage right now; truly brilliant at this level for Ipswich Town last season while on loan, but far from guaranteed a place in the Premier League side of his parent club Leicester City.
If there was a Championship-and-a-half, Lawrence would sit at that level and it pretty much mirrors where Middlesbrough are, as a club. Lawrence and Middlesbrough deserve the chance to improve and play their way into the top division and so I can’t see why this wouldn’t be a perfect marriage.
Lawrence managed 9 goals and 9 assists in 34 Championship games last time around, for a team struggling for the most part. At 23 years of age, the lad from Wrexham may only improve. So he’d be a great addition for Boro.