Middlesbrough face Jordan James issue that won't affect West Ham and Wolves | OneFootball

Middlesbrough may 'struggle to compete' with Wolves, West Ham and Burnley when it comes to the wages they can offer to transfer target Jordan James.

Middlesbrough are interested in Rennes’ Jordan James, although they will ‘struggle to compete’ on wages with some of their Championship rivals who are also chasing the midfielder.

The Welsh international is currently contracted to the Ligue 1 outfit, but it appears he has no future in France, with James having spent the previous campaign on loan at Leicester City.

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Even though it ultimately ended in disaster for the Foxes, as they were relegated to League One, James enhanced his reputation after a fine individual season, where he scored 11 goals and was named as the Young Player of the Year in the Championship.

Middlesbrough face financial hurdle to win Jordan James transfer battle

Therefore, a host of clubs have been linked with James over the summer, and recent reports have claimed that Middlesbrough, Wolves, West Ham and Burnley are all tracking the 22-year-old.

However, Teesside Live has explained that Boro are facing one major problem when it comes to trying to sign James, as they claim they may struggle to match the wages on offer.

“We checked that one out (James link) and were told he is a player Boro would love to sign, but the price of the deal, everything included, could make it difficult.

“Boro have spent big so far this summer, but will struggle to compete with the kind of wages that the other three sides can offer.”

It is thought that Rennes are holding out for a fee in the region of £10m for James, which shouldn’t be a problem for any of the clubs mentioned.

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Middlesbrough must do all they can to sign Jordan James

Obviously, the three clubs Boro are competing with to sign James were all in the Premier League last season, so they will be operating on a much bigger budget, and they have parachute payments that will enable them to pay more.

Which club would be the best fit for Jordan James? Let us know in the comments below.

But, whilst it makes it tougher for Boro, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible to sign James, as they will still be relatively big spenders by Championship standards. Plus, they can also include bonuses for winning promotion, and a guarantee of a new deal if the side do go up, that can make a difference, so there are ways around it.

Of course, this is also implying that James is only motivated by money, and there’s no reason to suggest that’s the case, and he may be keen on the prospect of playing for Kim Hellberg.

James’ aim will surely be to reach the Premier League and play at that level, but he will also want to become a key player at whichever club he does join.

So, Boro’s project will appeal, as they’ve had a fantastic window so far, bringing in some real talent, and the way Hellberg has the team playing is going to excite someone like James, as he is an all-action midfielder that loves to get forward.

Ultimately, all four clubs expect to be in the promotion race this season, so it’s difficult to say any particular club would be the best option for James, but if any of them can bring him in, it would be a statement signing.