"Michael Carrick understands" - Pundit speaks out on Middlesbrough concern as Crystal Palace eye up transfer | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has given his reaction to reports that Crystal Palace are interested in Middlesbrough defender Rav van den Berg.

Pundit Carlton Palmer believes Middlesbrough could be vulnerable to losing defender Rav van den Berg in the summer amid reported interest from Crystal Palace.

Van den Berg joined Middlesbrough from Dutch side PEC Zwolle last summer, with the Teesside outfit reportedly fighting off competition from the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Roma and AC Milan to land his signature, and he enjoyed an outstanding first season at the Riverside Stadium.

After scoring one goal in 39 appearances to help Michael Carrick's side to an eighth-placed finish in the Championship last season, van den Berg won the club's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, but despite being linked with Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in the summer, Boro were able to keep hold of him.

Van den Berg has struggled to hit the same heights during an injury-disrupted campaign this season, but it seems he is still attracting interest from Premier League clubs, with journalist Alan Nixon claiming that he is on Crystal Palace's list of targets ahead of the summer transfer window.

Palace are said to be resigned to losing captain Marc Guehi, who was the subject of a £70 million bid from Tottenham earlier this month, in the summer, and van den Berg is one name under consideration by the Eagles as a potential replacement for the England international, along with Burnley's Maxime Esteve.

Carlton Palmer on Rav van den Berg's Middlesbrough future as Crystal Palace circle

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said that while Middlesbrough will not want to lose van den Berg, it could be tough for them to turn down a significant bid from Palace in the summer, particularly if they fail to achieve promotion this season.

"Crystal Palace are looking at Middlesbrough's Rav van den Berg and Burnley's Maxime Esteve," Palmer said.

"This is all coming about because they've turned down offer after offer for Marc Guehi, but I think it's likely they're going to cash in on him in the summer.

"They can't hold the player back, he's been absolutely fantastic and done what he's had to do for the football club, he's not caused a problem after they've turned down bid after bid from the likes of Newcastle, he's just got on with his job.

"But I think they've got to a point where they're going to have to sell Guehi in the summer to help fund new additions to the squad, so they're looking for a classy centre-back to fill his boots and that's going to be a hard job to do that.

"Rav van den Berg has been outstanding for Middlesbrough, and so has Maxime Esteve (for Burnley).

"I think Middlesbrough are in that position where they know they're going to lose players, that's just the way it is.

"Emmanuel Latte Lath has just gone, they've made a huge profit on him going out the door.

"He's just gone on to Atlanta United for a £22.5 million fee, and Michael Carrick understands the way the club works, he's done magnificently well to keep Middlesbrough in and around the play-offs.

"Of course, Middlesbrough want to keep hold of Van den Berg, but if they fail to get promotion, then they've got to shuffle their pack again and one or two players will leave.

"I would have thought that having sold Latte Lath for as much money as they have, there would be no particular hurry to sell Van den Berg.

"However, to bring in a striker who scores goals costs you a lot of money, so we'll have to wait and see.

"Obviously Michael Carrick wants to keep all his top players, but if Crystal Palace sell Guehi for £70 million plus, they could come in with an offer of £25 - 30 million, and that would be hard for Middlesbrough - or Burnley in the case of Maxime Esteve - to turn down."

Michael Carrick will have Rav van den Berg fear after Emmanuel Latte Lath exit

Middlesbrough refused to sell any of their key players in the summer, with head of football Kieran Scott stating that keeping hold of their stars was the only way to achieve promotion, but that stance now appears to have changed.

While the £22.5 million fee received for Emmanuel Latte Lath from Atlanta United represented a huge profit, it was a questionable decision for the club to sell their best striker during a promotion push, and it does suggest owner Steve Gibson may be prepared to sanction further departures.

With that in mind, Carrick will be concerned about the reports of Palace's interest in van den Berg, and as Palmer says, should Boro miss out on promotion this season, the Dutchman's exit is a strong possibility.