Middlesbrough are keen to strengthen their defensive backline by making a summer loan deal permanent. However, their initial bid has been rejected.
George Edmundson has been a solid addition for Middlesbrough and has been a key part of their season. The veteran defender came to Teeside on loan from Ipswich Town who rejected a bid by the northeastern club to bring Edmundson in permanently.
According to the East Anglian Daily Times, Edmundson will not be lacking in teams wanting to sign him over the summer, so Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough’s manager, wants to get a head start. The bid is reported to be around £350,000 up front with £350,000 to be added on if Middlesbrough are promoted plus further add-ons. While the Tractor Boys are open to the idea, the current bid does not meet their valuation of Edmundson.
Could This Be A Move To Open Up Space For Reinforcements?
In his twenty appearances for Middlesbrough, George Edmundson has been a consistent presence on the backline. Always a physical player who isn’t afraid to challenge opposing attackers, Edmundson has been one of the more dependable defenders Middlesbrough has. That is key, especially considering that Middlesbrough have been vulnerable at the back at times.
While the Teesiders are currently fifth in the Championship, they would like to strengthen their prospects heading into the final stretch of the season. Making a permanent deal for Edmundson could open up a loan spot for another player Middlesbrough believes could aid their promotion bid. One that is rumored would be Mark Travers from Bournemouth. It might be a stretch, but there’s a good possibility that is at least part of the reasoning behind the push to make Edmundson’s deal permanent.
Would Middlesbrough Be a Good Destination?
As stated above, Edmundson seems to have made a seamless transition from being at Ipswich Town to Middlesbrough. He has even scored once in his twenty appearances. However, he does have good experience at different levels of English football, and many clubs at the Championship level or below would love to have the kind of steady veteran savvy that Edmundson brings.
However, Middlesbrough made their intentions clear early on in the season that they are clearly satisfied with what Edmundson brings and want him to continue being a rock solid foundation piece on a club that has lofty ambitions. Edmundson has even expressed interest in a permanent deal to stay on Teeside, so there is definitely a world where this all works out.
While it seems there is a long way to go in the process of securing a permanent deal, Middlesbrough hope that the pieces fall into place. With the goal of hopefully getting promoted this season, Middlesbrough are trying to explore options that would improve their odds of going up. Edmundson would definitely help give more of a solidity to the part of the Middlesbrough squad that feels like the weakest area.