Middlesbrough look set to sign Alex Bangura from SC Cambuur

Middlesbrough are working on a deal to sign Alex Bangura from Netherlands outfit SC Cambuur before Friday’s transfer deadline.

Sources in the Netherlands have confirmed that second-tier Dutch side Cambuur have accepted Boro’s offer for the left-back, who is now travelling to Teesside to finalise the move. He had just 12 months remaining on his contract with the Dutch side.

The 24-year-old had been linked with Boro earlier in the summer but the club at that point pursued a deal for Lukas Engel. But having assessed their options in the early weeks of the season, Boro’s recruitment team have decided that another was still needed and will add Bangura to provide competition for Engel.

What that means for Hayden Coulson remains to be seen. He returned to the club this summer after three loan deals in the last two seasons and was handed a new two-year contract before linking back up with Michael Carrick’s squad. But having failed to impress, and seemingly falling further down the pecking order it remains to be seen whether he might leave before Friday’s deadline. He has missed the last two games with a thigh injury.

Sierra Leone international Bangura had made his feelings clear earlier in the summer that he felt the time was right to leave Cambuur after their relegation from the Eredivisie. Having been converted from a winger to a left-back, Bangura was one of the most creative full-backs in the Dutch top-flight.

Bangura is understood to have interest in his services this summer from throughout Europe, but it was always believed that his preference was a move to England. He turned down a move to Feyenoord last summer, preferring to continue his development at Cambuur at that time.

 

 

Middlesbrough did agree a deal in principle with Plymouth Argyle for Josh Coburn to spend the season there on loan

Michael Carrick has confirmed that Josh Coburn will not leave Middlesbrough on loan this summer, with the Boro boss certain the young striker can offer enough for them this term.

Carrick had previously discussed the dilemma he faced this summer around the 20-year-old striker’s short-term future as he weighed up whether to keep him on Teesside or send him out on loan for more game time. In the end, Carrick has decided on the former, with Coburn set to remain at the Riverside.

Boro had agreed a deal in principle with fellow Championship side Plymouth Argyle for Coburn to spend the season on loan with the South West outfit. It follows the youngster’s successful spell in League One last term with Bristol Rovers. However, such a deal was dependent on Boro signing another striker of their own, having already added Emmanuel Latte Lath this summer.

But Carrick has now confirmed Coburn will stay, despite Boro adding versatile forward Sam Greenwood to their squad on Thursday. While Boro are continuing to monitor the market heading into the final day of the transfer window, the Coburn decision suggests that no new strikers will be arriving this summer. Everton’s Tom Cannon has been linked, but such reports are believed to be wide of the mark, certainly at the price that the Toffees are believed to want.

Asked about Coburn, Carrick said: “Josh is staying with us. It’s important for us as a club to look after our younger players, especially the ones coming through and develop and put them in the right place at the right time. Sometimes the right pathway changes.

“Coming back in pre-season, it was a case of getting to know Josh a bit more and deciding whether he went on loan or not, it was about what’s best for Josh and what’s best for us as a group and a squad. Over time it’s been pretty clear what Josh can bring. He’s back fit, looking really strong, we’re delighted to have him and all round it’s the best decision to have him with us.”

Boro do look set to add a 12th summer signing before the window closes, having agreed a deal with Dutch side SC Cambuur to sign left-back Alex Bangura. And the Boro head coach insists he won’t be switching his phone off at any stage tomorrow, as the club continue to monitor any and every possibility to potentially strengthen their squad more.

“The window is still open so you can’t just turn your phone off and finish,” he said. “Sometimes things are in our hands where you might push for certain things, other time things get thrown upon you because somebody is interested in one of your players.

“You have to expect the unexpected. We’re ready for anything. We feel we’re in a good place. We’re definitely not chasing and desperate for anything in terms of rash decisions. We feel like we’re in control. But yeah of course, you always have to be ready for something that’s thrown up in front of you.”

With Bangura not yet signed, Carrick would not comment on the deal that will see him arrive and add competition at left-back with fellow summer signing Lukas Engel. But that does put in doubt the future of Hayden Coulson after he returned from a loan spell at Aberdeen this summer and now falls further down the pecking order.

Asked about Coulson, who has missed the last two games with a slight thigh problem, Carrick said: “It depends on what goes on. At this moment in time we’re happy with what we’ve got. At this moment I’m delighted with the squad we’ve got. In terms of commenting on players, I save that for if and when we get anyone through the door.”