Middlesbrough urged to seal Oxford United transfer agreement as Sammy Silvera exit mooted | OneFootball

FLW's Middlesbrough fan pundit has been speaking on Boro's interest in Oxford United winger Tyler Goodrham, as per an FLW exclusive.

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 are one of three Championship clubs interested in signing Oxford United midfielder Tyler Goodrham this summer.

Football League World exclusively revealed on 12 May that Middlesbrough, Southampton and Coventry City are all eyeing up a potential summer swoop for the 21-year-old.

Any possible deal may not come cheap, however, as in July 2024, Oxford United announced via the club website that Goodrham had put pen to paper on a new 'long-term contract'.

The versatile midfielder, who has been with the U's since the age of 14, has been one of the standout performers in the club's first season back in the Championship since the 1998/99 season, and is certainly one that United boss Gary Rowett will want to keep hold of.

"Straight swap" - Middlesbrough told to seal Oxford United Tyler Goodrham deal - Sammy Silvera claim made

We asked our Middlesbrough fan pundit, Jasper Hudson: 'Middlesbrough are one of the clubs interested in Oxford United's talented midfielder Tyler Goodrham. Thoughts? Would you be happy with this addition?'

Hudson said: "In regards to our summer transfer business, I think there's been a bit of talk among fans and journalists that maybe in January, we strayed away from what had been so successful for us before.

"So on the face of it, he (Goodrham) looks like a signing that would take us back to the previous years' windows, where we've been successful finding good, talented young players.

"He's versatile, he can play in lots of positions - that will help. None of his numbers are particularly outstanding, and the positions he'd be coming into, there's lots of competition where we've had high-standard players before and some real quality players.

"So there's lots of competition for him, and it's quite big shoes to fill. I think I would see him, if he did come in, being more of a utility player who can play around.

"But, I don't see it being a particularly high-risk signing. He could ultimately come in, and a player like Sammy Silvera who we've had out on loan this season, could move on from the club and it sort of act as a straight swap there."

Tyler Goodrham could have big chance of grabbing Middlesbrough starting role

Whilst Middlesbrough do have a number of options in Goodrham's most commonly deployed position, left midfield, none of them have really cemented that role as their own for various reasons.

Delano Burgzorg has been inconsistent during his debut season on Teesside, having ended the season with just five goals and two assists from 42 Championship appearances.

The Dutchman has become a popular figure among the Boro support for his work ethic, but the production hasn't quite been there to suggest he should be entrusted to be the main man on the left flank for a club with obvious promotion aspirations.

Riley McGree has shown his quality at second tier level numerous times during his time as a Middlesbrough player, but his spell in the North East has been marred by injuries and his inability to stay fit.

The Australian international played just 17 times in the Championship this past season, having made just 22 in the 2023/24 campaign.

Finn Azaz can play on the left, but his more natural position is through the middle, and it's here where he's largely put in his best performances in a Boro shirt.

Therefore, should Goodrham complete a switch to Boro this summer, he may well have a big chance of staking claim to a place in the starting XI from that position.

Sammy Silvera surely heading for Middlesbrough exit door this summer

One Middlesbrough player who will surely be on the chopping block this summer is Sammy Silvera.

The 24-year-old arrived on Teesside in the summer of 2023 from Australian side Central Coast Mariners, but hasn't been able to cement a major role in Michael Carrick's squad.

Four goals and two assists in 37 Championship games marked an underwhelming debut 2023/24 campaign, and subsequent loan moves to Portsmouth and Blackpool this past season haven't brought about much success either.

His stint with Portsmouth during the first half of the 2024/25 season saw the Australian international fail to provide a goal or assist in 11 second tier outings, before his spell with the Tangerines in League One during the second half of the campaign saw him notch just one goal and one assist in 15 league outings.

Therefore, he's yet to prove himself in English football, and couldn't grab his opportunity to catch Boro's attention whilst out on loan. As such, he looks set to depart the Riverside Stadium this summer.