£5k-a-week Middlesbrough star could face big issue if ex-Newcastle United man signs | OneFootball

Jamal Lewis' arrival at The Riverside would provide yet another block for Alex Bangura's hopes of being the true number one left back at Boro

Jamal Lewis is arguably one of the more intriguing free agents on the market for a Championship side, as the 27-year-old still has a lot to offer in the second tier and even possibly the Premier League.

Lewis, who was an integral part of the Norwich City side that won the Championship in 2018/19, is finally a free agent after being released from Newcastle United at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, despite not playing for the Magpies since the 2022/23 term.

Since then, he made his 100th Championship appearance whilst on loan at Watford, and even spent a period out in Brazil, playing six games for São Paulo.

He may be set to make appearance number 101 in the English second tier this upcoming season, though, as a few sides in the Championship have registered interest, namely Norwich, Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion.

If it's Boro who secure his services, Alex Bangura may once again find himself a few players back in the pecking order for regular minutes at The Riverside this season.

Jamal Lewis' arrival could spell the end for Alex Bangura at Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough are likely to be in for a left-back this summer, after Samuel Illing-Junior, who deputised at times last season when Neto Borges had to play centre-back, returned to Aston Villa at the end of his long spell.

Although the winger-turned-full-back only played there due to Bangura's injury woes, as the 26-year-old played no part in 2024/25 due to an Achilles injury.

Bangura has been playing a part in pre-season for Rob Edwards' side this summer, but if Lewis does arrive at The Riverside before the beginning of the new campaign, the Sierra Leonean may find himself once again struggling for minutes.

This was the case in the 26-year-old's first season at the club, as he made just six Championship starts during the 2023/24 term, being benched in favour of Lukas Engel for the majority of the campaign.

Lewis would arrive with a plethora of second tier experience under his belt already, and at 27, has the drive and willingness to get his career back on track and play regularly in the Premier League once more.

And if Boro can keep their centre backs fit for the majority of the campaign, you'd expect Borges to become the backup left-back behind Lewis if the former Newcastle man signs this summer, leaving Bangura to be third-choice.

Alex Bangura's pre-season injury woes may cement the need for Jamal Lewis

However, Lewis is yet to find a new club for the new season, meaning that Bangura has the entirety of pre-season to impress the new Middlesbrough boss and show Edwards why he deserves to be a regular in the squad this season.

However, after missing over 400 days with the Achilles issue, getting back to full fitness this summer hasn't been plain sailing.

Bangura was forced off after just 11 minutes in a pre-season friendly with Bradford City earlier this week in what was his first start after sustaining the long-term injury. Edwards revealed that he wasn't planning on playing the 26-year-old for more than half an hour, so not even lasting that long will plant doubts that he can be a regular starter for Boro once the season gets underway.

So, if Middlesbrough do end up pushing to sign Lewis ahead of the likes of Norwich and West Brom, it likely won't even be to do with possibly upgrading the side, although you'd expect that a full-strength Lewis would better Boro next season.

It may simply be because Edwards needs a new face at left-back who could play for the majority of the campaign.