With the January transfer window fast approaching, rumours of players who are interested in moving become more and more common. Even players who are on playoff teams want out due to various reasons like lack of playing time. It can be so tricky for clubs who find talents either from inside the club or transfers that supplant veterans who were originally part of a manager’s plan. All players have ambitions and goals and those do not always get met. Such is football

Isaiah Jones Ready for a Change?

With Ben Doak stealing all the headlines as Middlesbrough’s main right winger, a new report suggests that Middlesbrough’s Isaiah Jones wants to leave the club to find more playing time. The Guyana international has made 145 appearances on the right wing for Middlesbrough since Chris Wilder discovered him and played him frequently. Jones used his amazing pace and ingenious creativity to score a goal and contribute nine assists in his first season.

Coming into this season, Isaiah Jones was considered the starter on the right wing for Middlesbrough. However, despite starting the first six games of the season, the emergence of Ben Doak has had Jones fall down the pecking order in terms of selection into the first team. Under Michael Carrick, Jones has done quite well scoring ten goals and assisting twelve times in the two years Carrick has been at the club. Jones still makes substitute appearances for the club, but he desires more than just the occasional appearance late in games.

Will Jones Leave?

According to this report, there is interest in the pacy winger from both Championship and Premier League clubs. Having just signed a new three-year contract with Middlesbrough, however, makes all the leverage lean to the side of Middlesbrough. Previously, clubs such as Crystal Palace have come sniffing around for Jones, but Jones chose to stay on Teeside.

While Jones may wish to leave Middlesbrough, all he might need to do is be patient. Ben Doak has been a revelation for the Middlesbrough attack, but there has been speculation that Doak’s parent club, Liverpool, might try to recall him due to his excellent Middlesbrough form. If that were to happen, it would leave a major hole on the right wing that Isaiah Jones would easily fit in.

Ben Doak’s departure feels unlikely however as the player has made it very clear that he wants to stay at Middlesbrough and Liverpool has made no indication that they want Doak back any time soon. The value of regular, first-team soccer for the teenager is immense, and it seems Liverpool recognize and respect the phenom’s wishes. With that in mind, if Middlesbrough keep Doak, they may very well take a really good offer for Isaiah Jones to respect what he has done for the club.

Jones’ Struggles

While Isaiah Jones has found success during his time at Middlesbrough, he has also recently struggled to make an impact. During his appearances at the start of the current season, Jones often was found lacking in any creativity or attacking decisions. This was also the case at times last season as well. Because of this, Jones has not always been a favorite as of late with some Middlesbrough supporters.

Jones has admitted that he struggles often with mental health and that his play and feedback about it influences how he plays. Mental health struggles are no joke, and if that is the case, a move might be exactly what Isaiah Jones needs.

Isaiah Jones has talent, there is no doubt about that. The lack of playing time for him has affected him, and it is no surprise he wants a move because of that. However, depending on what happens in the January transfer window, he might very well find that playing time might come at Middlesbrough.