Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has spoken on the club’s performance in the transfer window in a recent interview.
While Carrick is willing to roll with the punches regarding Boro’s current situation, he also commented that ‘it doesn’t really make sense’.
Additionally, when quizzed on whether Boro will look to add anyone to their squad before the season opener against Millwall, Carrick admitted ‘I don’t really know’.
What did Michael Carrick have to say regarding Middlesbrough’s transfer dealings?
In an interview with Teeside Live, Carrick said: “‘Maybe’ is the honest answer. I don’t really know if we’ll have any more in before Millwall, to be honest. I’ve said it to you all summer long, we’re looking to improve the squad and add to the group and that won’t change this week in terms of how much we’ll be trying.
“But we’ve been trying for quite some time and we just haven’t managed to get the right things in place at the right time yet. Hopefully that is soon. The window goes on for a bit longer, which I think we all struggle to understand why – the season starting while the window is still open. But, it is what it is. We’ve got to deal with that, and we’ll make the best of it.
“I’m not frustrated, it is what it is. It doesn’t really make sense, I think we all agree. But I’m not frustrated. It is what it is and it’s not going to change. No problem.”
What signings have Middlesbrough made so far this summer?
So far in the summer transfer window, Boro have snapped up seven players – Morgan Rogers, Seny Dieng, Tom Glover, Jamie Jones, Alex Gilbert, Rav van den Berg and Sam Silvera.
While it is difficult to call their summer transfer window a disaster, Boro have not looked convincing in pre-season – some fans believe that there are still improvements to be made.
Perhaps Boro’s most concerning loss in the summer window was that of Marc Bola, who left the Riverside Stadium to join Samsunspor in the Turkish League. Nevertheless, he had become a fringe player under Carrick anyway – so his departure should not be too damaging.
However, football is a never-ending financial arms race. With teams such as Leeds United, Leicester City and Watford eyeing promotion next season, will Middlesbrough be able to keep pace with them?