Championship side Middlesbrough are closing in on a deal for Samuel Illing-Junior from Aston Villa on loan after the player was recalled from Bologna.
Samuel Illing-Junior, a product of the Chelsea and Juventus academies, came up through the Juventus ranks and made a few appearances for a couple of their youth teams before making 36 appearances in two years for the senior team.
He was then sold to Aston Villa as part of a double transfer that included Enzo Barrenechea and sent Douglas Luiz to Juventus. It was a deal worth fourteen million euros plus three million euros worth of add-ons. However, Illing-Junior was sent on loan to Bologna a month later and has made only seven appearances this season.
John Percy of the Daily Telegraph reports that Middlesbrough are in talks with Aston Villa for a loan deal of the English international. Aston Villa have already recalled Illing-Junior from Bologna, and a deal is said to be very close.
Does he fit in at Middlesbrough?
Illing-Junior plays mostly as a winger. He can play on both sides and can even play as an attacking midfielder or as a forward. Juventus’ U19 coach liked using the youngster in various positions, and this versatility is seen as one of the strengths of the English youth international.
With this in mind, it is interesting to consider where Illing-Junior fits in the Middlesbrough squad. Michael Carrick has admitted that Riley McGree is “weeks away” due to an injury which leaves Boro thin at the left wing as Delano Burgzorg has been the only consistent player on that wing.
However, with the signing of Morgan Whittaker, there is a possibility that Whittaker could move to the left wing if needed. Or it could be that Finn Azaz move ls to the left wing with Whittaker or Illinig-Junior playing as an attacking midfielder behind Tommy Conway or whoever comes in during the remainder of this transfer window. Another intriguing option is putting Illing-Junior up top as a forward and using Azaz or Burgzorg on the left wing with Ben Doak on the right wing and Morgan Whittaker in the middle. A move like this would definitely bring more flexibility for Michael Carrick in his attack.
Is it Worth the Risk?
While Illing-Junior has a lot of potential and talent, one drawback for some might be his lack of experience. He has only had seven appearances so far this season for Bologna and had a combined 36 appearances and two goals in two seasons while on the Juventus senior team. Many of these appearances were in the Champions League though, which, while not always the best, is still invaluable experience against some of the best teams in Europe.
Middlesbrough have made a point of looking for young talent lately, and the club wants to develop that talent. The 21-year-old definitely fits the criteria. Not only that, an explosive, attacking talent could certainly help a squad that is recently struggling to consistently find the back of the net.
A loan move for the likes of Illing-Junior certainly has a lot of risk and reward benefit to it, but if the Teesiders are able to harness the potential of a talented youngster, it could be another move that might be huge come the end of the season. Risky moves have been the modus operandi for Kieran Scott lately, and more often than not, those moves have worked. Just ask the likes of Emmanuel Latte Lath or Morgan Rogers.