Mendy signs: 3 dreamy yet realistic Middlesbrough FC transfers the club should make this summer | OneFootball

Highlights

Middlesbrough will feel that this season has been a disappointment for them, and the summer transfer window will be a big opportunity for them to bounce back to where they feel they should be.

After comfortably finishing in the play-offs in the 2022/23 campaign, Boro's hopes were that, even after losing Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer in the summer, that they'd be able to at least replicate that. But they haven't.

With two games left to play in the league season, Michael Carrick's men are out of the top six picture. They had a slow start to the season, and Boro left it too late to make a push.

The summer window provides them with a great opportunity. A lot of top teams will be going up to the Premier League this season, and an opening in and around those top spots could arise.

But to do that, Middlesbrough need to strengthen their squad.

With that in mind, here are three dreamy yet realistic signings Boro could make to help them do that.

Alexandre Mendy

Even though Emmanuel Latte Lath is on absolute fire at the moment, Boro do need some help up front as they can't only rely on him.

In Mendy, they would be provided with a completely different profile. He's over six feet tall, and plays for Caen in Ligue 2. Over the past three seasons, the 30-year-old has scored 55 league goals.

The striker would definitely be affordable for Boro, and his potent finishing would add another layer to their attack.

Other than Josh Coburn, the side is lacking real physicality up front, and Mendy would be able to bring that to the table.

He could be deployed as a solid bench option, or even to play alongside Latte Lath.

Someone like him would make Boro's attack much more versatile, and a diverse range of weapons is a big asset to have when you're pushing for the top spots.

Raheem Edwards

When the season ends, Middlesbrough are going to be hit hard in the full-back department. Both Lukes (Ayling and Thomas) are to return to their parent clubs, and this will leave them short in this position.

They want to be a front-foot team, and Edwards can help them embrace that even more.

Outside of the top five leagues in the world, the Canadian left-back is in the top 10% of full-backs for non-penalty goals, assists, successful take-ons, touches in the attacking penalty area, and tackles (all on a per 90 basis), as per FBRef.

Boro haven't had much creativity from their full-backs this season. Ayling has been the best in this area of the game, but, with him leaving in the summer, they need to add more offensive production from their full-backs.

The 28-year-old, whose contract with CF Montreal expires in December, would likely be available for a cheaper fee, has shown that he would be capable of filling that hole in the squad.

Herbert Bockhorn

We move over to the other side of the defence now, and, like the proposed transfer option for the left-hand side, Bockhorn could provide Middlesbrough with strong attacking traits down the right.

Bockhorn is a very adept full-back when it comes to taking players on, averaging 3.43 progressive carries and 1.64 successful take-ons per 90, which ranks him among the best outside of the top five leagues.

He had a very brief stint with Huddersfield Town in 2019, and has also played a decent amount of games in the Bundesliga. The 29-year-old now plays in Germany's second division for FC Magdeburg.

Transfermarkt value him at £600,000, which could be a steal for a player of his attacking ability.

A signing like this wouldn't just be depth, purely in terms of numbers of bodies available. The right-back would add quality going forward that others in the team wouldn't be able to rival.

Boro want to be up near the top end of the table, and, when you look at the best full-backs in the league this season - Leif Davis, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ricardo Pereira - they all play a vital role in their teams' attacking build up.

Middlesbrough don't, necessarily, have the players to do that right now. Bringing in Bockhorn would help them to get to that level.