Middlesbrough urged to eye "well-liked" Man Utd midfielder in January | OneFootball

A deal between the parties could work excellently for all involved

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Middlesbrough, like all clubs, will now be assessing how they can use the upcoming Janaury transfer window to their advantage.

Michael Carrick and his team will now have had enough time to assess what areas they feel they need to strengthen and could be identifying players they could go for in a couple of months.

Boro have had a fairly strong start to the season, sitting in 7th, but they will want to up the ante if they’re aiming to be in the promotion conversations come the end of the season.

We asked our Boro Fan Pundit, Jasper Hudson, which areas, and players, he’d like to see his side target in the winter window.

Midfield reinforcements needed at Boro, says Fan Pundit

Speaking to Football League World, Jasper said: “A position we may need to strengthen is midfield. Both Morris and Hackney are being assessed for injuries they’ve picked up on international duty now, so it would be a good opportunity to get some depth.

“And I think they shouldn't be able for too long, but it does always run the risk, you know, your midfield is so crucial.

“Howson is good but he’s getting older and Barlaser is not really getting frequent game time, although recently, when he has come on, he has been good.

“But I still think midfield could be a position to strengthen in, especially if Barlaser does end up leaving, or even Hackney ends up leaving in January.

“One player that stands out to me with the Michael Carrick connection at United is Toby Collyer.

“He's very well-liked at the club and from what he looks like he can do on the pitch, he looks like really impressive midfielder, so Toby Collyer would be someone, should we need depth in midfield, a position that we may end up needing depth in, he’d be someone I’d go for.”

A Collyer move could work well for all parties

With a number of Boro’s central midfielders currently going through injury or selection issues, it does feel like the ideal time for the club to bolster in this area.

Carrick’s relationship with Manchester United is well known, first as a legendary player, then as a coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and, finally, a quick stint as interim boss.

Toby Collyer is an exciting prospect currently finding his feet outside of academy football and entered the senior squad conversation at Old Trafford earlier this season under former boss Erik ten Hag.

However, it remains to be seen how much of a look-in he gets under new head coach Ruben Amorim — his 3-4-3 system generally allows for two archetypal central midfielders in Collyer’s mould and with all of Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte fighting for those places ahead of him, minutes may not be guaranteed.

Based on the way he handled his introduction to men’s football, Collyer is clearly ready to step away from youth football, but he needs minutes and experience under his belt.

A move to Boro, with a manager the Reds will trust in Carrick, could help the Championship club bolster a position they’re lacking in while also earning Collyer some welcome experience of regular football.

If Boro are in the market for a midfielder this January, then it would seem a missed opportunity not to try and work some of Carrick’s top-level connections.