Why Jamal Lowe could be a real coup for Middlesbrough

According to Hartlepool Mail, Middlesbrough are still interested in completing a move for Portsmouth winger Jamal Lowe. 

Lowe has been linked with a move to the Riverside Stadium ever since the start of the summer transfer window and the Teessiders might push harder to get a deal over the line, with only nine days left before the transfer deadline. (h/t Hartlepool Mail)

Boro are not the only club to have been credited with an interest in the 25-year-old winger, with the same report claiming that Wigan Athletic and Leeds United are also keen on securing his services. 

Hartlepool Mail understands that Wigan recently had a £2.6million for Lowe bid turned down by Portsmouth, who value their prized asset at nothing less than £3million. 

Hence, Boro are likely to have a rough idea of the kind of offer that they would have to put on the table in order to tempt Pompey into selling the in-demand attacker.

Lowe, however, is not the only wide player on the club’s radar, with the Teessiders also mulling over a move for Torino’s Lucas Boye. (h/t Hartlepool Mail)

Lowe was one of the driving forces behind Portsmouth’s march to the semi-finals of the EFL League One Playoffs last season, as the former non-league star plundered 17 goals and 9 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions to spearhead the Pompey’s surge for promotion. 

The Harrow-born winger featured for an array of non-league sides, including Hayes and Yeading United, Boreham Wood, Farnborough, St. Albans City, Hemel Hempstead Town and Hampton & Richmond Borough before making his move to Fratton Park in 2016. 

Lowe chipped in with 4 goals in his debut season to guide Portsmouth to a promotion-winning campaign and followed it up with 8 goals in the following season in the third-tier.

However, it was in the previous campaign that he really came of age and proved that he is very much capable of thriving in the Football League system. 

Essentially a right-winger by trade, the 25-year-old is capable of playing in a multitude of positions across the midfield and final third, with his versatility being one of his key assets.

Lowe showed in League One last season that he not only has the pace to burn, but he is also quite capable of racking up the goals and creating chances from the wide areas,  not to mention some powerful shooting that earned him a lot of plaudits as well.

To put things into perspective, Middlesbrough are currently short of attacking options in the wide areas following the departure of Stewart Downing earlier in the summer.

While Marcus Browne has been brought in from West Ham to bolster the attack, the arrival of a specialist winger like Lowe should add a lot more firepower to Boro’s ranks. 

Lowe doesn’t have any prior experience of playing in the Championship but at 25, the time might just be right for him to test his credentials at a higher level. 

Plus, Lowe has a lot of non-league and League One experience under his belt, so that should help him gradually mould his game to match the demands of playing in the second tier. 

Conclusion

Middlesbrough have burgeoning young talent like Marcus Tavernier in their ranks but Lowe seems to have a lot more pedigree than the youngster at the moment. 

Jonny Howson and George Friend are both capable of slotting into wide roles but neither of them is a natural winger by trade.

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Hence, it is pretty easy to see that Jamal Lowe fits the bill at the Riverside Stadium and Boro might as well launch a promotion onslaught next term under Woodgate if he manages to hit the ground running in the Championship.