"I don't think" - Middlesbrough offered bittersweet hope in Leeds and Leicester transfer race | OneFootball

Pundit Carlton Palmer believes it could be tough for Middlesbrough to win the race to sign for Brest winger Karamoko Dembele this summer due to their inability to offer Premier League football but has tipped them as a potential loan destination.

Dembele came through the ranks at Celtic, notably playing for their Under-20 side as a 13-year-old in 2016, but after failing to establish himself in the Hoops' first team, he made the move to Brest in July 2022.

The 21-year-old joined League One side Blackpool on loan in August, and he has starred for the Seasiders in their promotion push this season, scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists in 40 appearances in all competitions so far.

Dembele's performances at Bloomfield Road have not gone unnoticed, and according to HITC, Premier League sides Everton, West Ham United, Fulham, Brentford, Wolves and Nottingham Forest are all keen on the winger, as well as Championship outfits Leicester City, Southampton, Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

After losing to Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals last season, it has been a disappointing campaign for Boro this time around, and they currently sit 10th in the table, seven points from the top six with just eight games remaining.

Palmer: Middlesbrough may not be able to sign Karamoko Dembele

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said that Boro's Championship status could prove to be a stumbling block to their hopes of signing Dembele, but he believes a loan move to the Riverside Stadium may be a possibility if the winger joins a Premier League side.

"Middlesbrough are also said to be keen on signing Karamoko Dembele," he said.

"Obviously you want to play at the highest level possible, and Middlesbrough, unfortunately, this season will miss out on the Premier League.

"Last season they were in the play-offs, this season they weren't able to do a lot in the transfer market.

"Yes, you want to play regular football, but you want to go to the highest level possible. "If you go to a Leeds or Leicester, there is a chance you will be playing regular first team football, so I don't think Middlesbrough have an advantage in offering him regular first team football because it is at Championship level. "But then again, he might go to the Everton's or the West Ham's of this world, who might loan him out to Middlesbrough for a season where he can gather some experience because you've got to remember that Blackpool are in League One, they're not in the Championship. "Yes, he's doing really well at that level, but although he's very technically gifted, whether he can jump up two levels remains to be seen.

"It could be that he goes to a Premier League club like West Ham or Everton, and they view him as a long-term option for the future and he is loaned out to the Championship for the season."

Middlesbrough must pursue Karamoko Dembele move this summer

It is difficult to disagree with Palmer that it will be hard for Boro to sign Dembele with competition from Premier League clubs, but the winger is exactly the type of player Michael Carrick's side need.

After losing the likes of Zack Steffen, Ryan Giles, Aaron Ramsey, Cameron Archer, and Chuba Akpom in the summer, Boro's recruitment this season has been poor, and they must improve the squad in the upcoming transfer window if they are to challenge for promotion next season.

Carrick has a strong track record of improving players, while Boro have been a good stepping stone for talented youngsters in recent years, with the likes of Marcus Tavernier and Morgan Rogers going on to play in the Premier League after spending time at the club, so a move to Teesside may be tempting for Dembele.