The 4 Middlesbrough FC players who could attract serious transfer interest this summer | OneFootball

Middlesbrough FC were unfortunate this season to not reach the Championship play-offs, failing to repeat their feats from 2022/23.

However, now the summer transfer window is around the corner, plenty of planning will be going into making decisions over incomings, renewals and departures to get back to former heights.

In this article, we profile four players who could potentially be attracting serious attention from rival clubs this summer, and whether they should be kept by Michael Carrick, or sold.

Dael Fry

Middlesbrough's homegrown centre half has had yet another solid season at the Riverside.

Across his 35 games this season for Boro in all competitions, the Englishman has helped keep five clean sheets, as well as providing a single assist.

He has also been domineering in the air, winning 70% of his aerial duels according to FotMob, showing that despite his stature, he can still be a reliable force defensively.

Fry has been a mainstay in the backline for Boro ever since the 2018/19 season, making over 30 appearances in all seasons since then, proving that he is dependable when it comes to his fitness on the whole.

He would be a difficult man to replace for Michael Carrick at the Riverside, as any transfer would be when taking a local boy, who is popular with fans, out of the team. With the added fact that Fry recently extended his contract with Middlesbrough, keeping him at the club until 2026, there is sense keeping Fry, but his reputation means that he's sure to have suitors in the summer.

Emmanuel Latte Lath

From one end of the pitch to the other, striker Latte Lath could be a player on many teams' radars this summer.

The Ivorian striker has been in glowing form in his first season in England, having been signed by Carrick from St Gallen of Switzerland last summer, completing a scoring rate of roughly a goal every other game that he has played in.

In his 30 matches this season in the second tier, Boro's number nine has hit 16 goals, with another two coming in Middlesbrough's run to the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

He has been a powerful frontman who has been crucial in spearheading the Middlesbrough attack, and he would be ideal for any team searching for a strong, fast, focal point in their team.

He would also be a great signing for any team that need a goal poacher. With all-but one of his strikes this season coming from inside the box, according to FotMob, he would provide any interested side with a fox-in-the-box type player.

At the moment, Latte Lath's stock is high, and he does have a contract running until 2027, leaving Middlesbrough in a strong position if clubs come calling for a player that grew impressively across the 2023/24 season.

Rav van den Berg

The next player we will profile that could attract serious attention this summer is Rav van den Berg.

Brother of Liverpool youngster Sepp, the Dutchman has impressed and excited in his first season on English shores, with solid performances at the back highlighting him as a real prospect within the EFL.

Van den Berg's stats for this season earmark him as a true defensive might, and it won't be surprising if teams from the Premier League, or those in the top tiers around Europe come sniffing.

The Dutchman, who recently won the club's Player of the Year award, has recently come out and said that he is happy remaining at the club, even if interest elsewhere does arise. Speaking at the club's award ceremony, he said: "Things are a little bit different here and you have to play a bit smarter, using your body and stuff like that I feel like I’ve learned a lot and I’m used to the league now.

"I’m really happy with the decision I made to come here and I’m really happy here right now."

There is no ignoring the fact that there will be no Premier League football to offer to van den Berg next year, and considering he has shown signs already that he will become a great defender, clubs from a higher level may well be interested.

However, if Boro and van den Berg want to maximise both the investment, given he was only signed last year and has a deal running until 2027, and also his potential, then the Dutchman should be kept at the Riverside next season. Even if a tempting offer does come in, another year of Championship football to solidify and grow will do nobody any harm.

Hayden Hackney

Hackney is yet another local boy that has impressed for Boro, and he has done tremendously considering his age.

Hackney has been of interest to giants of the Premier League such as Liverpool and Manchester United in the past, but he does have a contract running at the Riverside until 2027. That contract and value Boro might place on the midfielder may detract top sides, as could the player's quite inconsistent availability in 2023/24, where injuries did pinch.

The 21-year-old is an enormous talent, though, and has a future in the Premier League, whether that's with or without Middlesbrough in the mid-term. This summer, expect to see interest in him and, if an offer comes in that's simply too good for him or Boro to turn down, that route into the top-flight might be imminent.