Exclusive: Middlesbrough lead Stoke City, Birmingham City in race for Hull City star | OneFootball

Liam Millar has been targeted by all three Championship sides late in the window

The immediate future of Hull City winger, Liam Millar, has been a hot topic of discussion in recent days, and with all of Birmingham City, Middlesbrough and Stoke City eyeing moves for the Canadian, Football League World can exclusively reveal that Kim Hellberg's side are leading the race ahead of Tuesday's 11PM deadline.

Middlesbrough have made a plethora of eye-catching transfer moves throughout the summer window in a bid to finally end their long-standing exile from the Premier League, which is nearing a 10th year.

Hellberg's side have won two of their first three Championship matches, whilst also investing heavily in the trio of Radek Vitek, Ash Phillips and Will Lankshear in particular.

However, with there being just a matter of hours to go in the summer window, the Teesside outfit are looking to swoop for yet another top-flight performer who generated plenty of headlines this weekend.

Middlesbrough lead Birmingham City and Stoke City in loan race for Hull City's Liam Millar

Action Images

Millar, of course, was part of the Tigers squad which defeated Boro in May's Championship play-off final, and FLW understand Hellberg's side are currently stealing a march in the race to loan in the 26-year-old ahead of their divisional rivals, having initially been credited with interest alongside Birmingham on Monday.

This comes just days after the winger netted his maiden Premier League goal for the East Yorkshire side against Coventry City at the CBS Arena, which continued Sergej Jakirovic's team's perfect return to the top-flight, with Millar a substitute against both the Sky Blues and Manchester United.

The 44-time international has had a mixed spell at the MKM Stadium due to a serious ACL injury sustained in October 2024, just two months after signing from FC Basel, meaning he has only played 53 matches, scoring five times and producing eight assists.

Middlesbrough's Liam Millar interest intensifies despite Stoke City, Hull City saga

Action Images

Whilst also featuring against Stoke in Hull's EFL Cup second round success in the Potteries last Tuesday, Millar had become heavily linked with a move to Mark Robins' side due to the Tigers' own interest in Sorba Thomas, which is still ongoing.

Stoke, who sit bottom of the Championship on goal difference after losing all three matches, had initially rejected a £7m bid for the Welshman, before it was reported that a bid as high as £10m was accepted, although Robins' side have set out their intention of sourcing a replacement.

Since then, it has been reported that Millar has become 'unsure' over a move to the Potters, whilst Thomas is said to have refused to play for his current employers against Norwich City in an attempt to force a move to HU3.

Liam Millar adds adequate depth to Kim Hellberg's wide areas

Action Images

Millar does have strong recent experience in the Championship despite his injury issues with Hull, having spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Preston North End, producing 10 goal contributions in 36 matches.

The Canadian will, therefore, add adequate depth to Hellberg's left-wing options, having utilised Jeremy Sarmiento in said position against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, whilst there is still speculation over the future of Micah Hamilton.