£50m Man Utd transfer talk will baffle Middlesbrough supporters: View | OneFootball

Middlesbrough look set to face another year in the Championship next season.

Boro missed out on promotion as they were beaten by Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals last season and their inconsistency in 2023/24 means they are unlikely to secure a top six finish this time around.

One of the main problems for Boro is that they have been unable to replace the quality of those who departed in the summer, including the likes of Zack Steffen, Ryan Giles, Aaron Ramsey, Cameron Archer, and Chuba Akpom, who all played a key role in last season's success.

Another player that left the Riverside Stadium in the summer was striker Rodrigo Muniz, who returned to Fulham at the end of his loan spell.

Muniz endured a tough year on Teesside as he fell out of favour following Carrick's arrival, and it seemed highly unlikely that he would be involved for Marco Silva's side in the Premier League this season.

However, after breaking into the Cottagers team, Muniz has become one of the in-form strikers in the top flight, and recent links with Manchester United will leave Boro supporters questioning how he has experienced such an incredible transformation.

Middlesbrough supporters will be stunned by Rodrigo Muniz to Manchester United speculation

Muniz was seen as one of Boro's marquee signings when he joined on loan from Fulham in the summer of 2022, and after being handed the number nine shirt, there was hope that he could be the man to fire the club to promotion.

The 22-year-old was immediately thrown into the team after his arrival, and he impressed during what was a poor start to the season, resulting in the sacking of Chris Wilder in October 2022.

Muniz continued to feature under caretaker manager Leo Percovich, and he started Carrick's first game in charge, a 2-1 defeat at Preston North End.

However, that would prove to be his final start for the club, and he went on to make just five further substitute appearances, frequently being left out of the matchday squad altogether.

When asked about Muniz's continued omission from the squad in January 2023, Carrick told Teesside Live: "Rodrigo has been great, he’s trained fantastically well and he’s a really nice lad. It’s one of those things when you’ve got a big squad and good options. Unfortunately, at certain points, some players play more than others, and some play a bit less. That’s something we’re conscious of and trying to improve. But that’s the constant balance that we face."

Given the outstanding form of Akpom and Archer, Boro supporters hardly noticed Muniz's absence as they surged up the Championship table, and a lack of goals was certainly not a problem for Carrick's men.

Muniz departed after scoring just two goals in 17 appearances for Boro, the last of those coming in mid-September, and his future at parent club Fulham looked uncertain heading into the transfer window.

The Brazilian remained at Craven Cottage, but despite the exit of Aleksandar Mitrovic, he found himself on the bench for much of the first half of the season, with Silva preferring Raul Jimenez ahead of him.

There was speculation that Muniz could be set for another loan move in January, with Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers said to have been keen, but he has been given an opportunity in recent months, and he has taken his chance, scoring eight goals in his last 10 league games to become one of the most dangerous strikers in the Premier League.

Such has been Muniz's remarkable form, there has been talk about potential interest from elsewhere, and GIVEMESPORT claim that Manchester United, who are believed to be Muniz's dream club, would have to pay around £50 million if they want to land his signature this summer.

Silva admitted that Muniz's loan spell at Boro was underwhelming, but he believes that the challenges he faced on Teesside have made him stronger.

"Last season unfortunately wasn't the best on the pitch. The loan, we decided something for him, was not the best. We have to be realistic, but at the same time he grew in a different way. Some difficulties for him to face, and sometimes even if you don't grow playing football matches you can grow in a different way, and even so I think it was a moment for him to think about himself, what he should do, to be in a good level, and of course he came back," Silva said, quoted via Teesside Live.

The Cottagers boss predicted last week that there is "much more to come" from Muniz, and as his stock continues to rise, Boro supporters will surely be wondering what could have been if he was given more of a chance by Carrick.