Kim Hellberg eyes 23-year-old midfielder to be Middlesbrough's next signing | OneFootball

Middlesbrough and FC Koln are interested in Malmo midfielder Otto Rosengren.

Kim Hellberg is gearing up for his first full season as Middlesbrough boss, as they look to bounce back from their disappointing play-off final defeat.

The previous campaign was a hectic one for Boro, with Rob Edwards making the controversial decision to leave for Wolves just months after his appointment, whilst ‘Spygate’ dominated the end of the season.

Now, though, attention is turning to the new season, and Hellberg will be determined to put his own stamp on the squad during his first summer transfer window.

Middlesbrough and FC Koln interested in Malmo’s Otto Rosengren

Boro have already started on that front, with Myles Peart-Harris and Kyle Joseph having joined the club, but there will be plenty more business for the Teesside outfit to do over the coming weeks.

And, one player who appears to be on their radar is Malmö’s Otto Rosengren, as Swedish media outlet Expressen has claimed Hellberg wants to sign the midfielder.

However, any deal won’t be straightforward, as they state that FC Koln are also monitoring the 23-year-old, with the German side having sent scouts to watch Rosengren in Malmö’s thumping 4-0 win over Goteborg over the weekend, where he registered an assist.

With Rosengren having entered the final 18 months of his contract, the report adds that there is a possibility that Malmö will cash in on one of their star men if a suitable offer arrives, and it’s said that he is ‘highly ranked internally’ at Middlesbrough.

Hellberg will have a good knowledge of the Swedish game, having managed Varnamo and Hammarby, among other clubs, before joining Boro.

Otto Rosengren would be a smart signing for Middlesbrough

Following on from that, we know that the head coach at Middlesbrough doesn’t call the shots entirely when it comes to transfers, but Hellberg will obviously have a big input, and it makes sense to tap into the Swedish market.

On paper, Rosengren would appear to be a very good signing for Boro, and he fits the profile of player that they should be looking to bring in.

At 23, he is still young, but Rosengren has made over 100 appearances for Malmö since his move from Mjallby, which includes playing in Europe.

So, he has decent experience, and he is a good all-round midfielder who has a range of attributes that could make him suited to the Championship.

Clearly, it’s an area of the pitch that Boro must address after Hayden Hackney’s move to Everton. Of course, there’s not going to be only one player to cover the loss of the academy graduate, who was named as the best player in the league last season.

But, Rosengren would certainly bring something to the XI, and Hackney’s sale should mean Boro are ready to spend.

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FC Koln’s interest will be a problem, as the chance to go to a Bundesliga club may appeal to Rosengren, but it also shows they are in the market for a good player!

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and if Hellberg can convince Rosengren to make the move to Middlesbrough, it would be a very positive move for the club as they look to strengthen their squad.