Middlesbrough FC must consider Rangers hijack for Rav van den Berg replacement | OneFootball

Middlesbrough should try and pursue Rangers target Xavier Mbuyamba in order to replace Rav van den Berg, who is seemingly bound for Feyenoord.

Middlesbrough are once again rebuilding this summer as they seek to reshape and restructure their squad for Rob Edwards to try and take on, targeting a sustained promotion challenge in the Championship this season.

The Smoggies missed out on the top six and the play-off places for a second successive season on the final day of the campaign last year, under the management of Michael Carrick, and significant changes are being made at the Riverside.

One of the changes that may not actually be one that is welcomed, but is now looking likelier to happen, is the departure of key defender Rav van den Berg, with Dutch giants Feyenoord pushing ahead with a deal to sign the centre-back.

Van den Berg has been a key man for Boro and a shining example of their recruitment policy, whereby they aim to buy low and eventually sell high, so finding his replacement is likely to follow those lines.

With that in mind, the Teessiders should therefore attempt to rival Scottish giants Rangers over the signing of former Chelsea and Barcelona youngster Xavier Mbuyamba.

Xavier Mbuyamba has shone at Volendam after Chelsea exit - he could be ready for return to British football

23-year-old defender Xavier Mbuyamba initially began playing professional football with MVV Maastricht in 2018 before playing in the academies of both Barcelona and then Chelsea.

After departing the latter in the summer of 2022, he joined Volendam in the Eredivisie and became a key first-teamer, albeit they were relegated from the Dutch top flight in 2024.

However, last season, the former Netherlands youth international matured as a player and was instrumental for Volendam as they won the Eerste Divisie title.

The 6ft 5in centre-back is the reported subject of interest from Rangers, with his physique and presence one thing, but his ability to play out with the ball also well suited to Russell Martin’s style of football, having developed at both La Masia and Cobham.

It has been reported that Mbuyamba could be available for as little as £433,000 in this summer’s transfer window, and that could be a real bargain for the price as Boro seek to replace Van den Berg.

Xavier Mbuyamba would fit in well at Middlesbrough should they look to hijack Rangers swoop

Rob Edwards has been pragmatic in terms of the style of football that he has preferred as a manager, with Forest Green Rovers and Luton Town both being successful with a three-at-the-back system, but in different ways.

Forest Green played a vast and exuberant, attacking style of football under Edwards, whilst Luton punched well above their weight with still cohesive patterns of play, but a bit more defensive emphasis and intense physicality.

At Middlesbrough, it is likely that Edwards will be able to match both ideas, with Middlesbrough in a sweet spot where they should challenge for promotion, but they aren’t expected to be overwhelmingly dominant week in week out.

That balance and mixed philosophy would also suit a player of the profile of Mbuyamba, with his height and physicality at centre-back able to see him likely cope well with the demands of English football, but his previous football education and experience giving him the technical attributes to stand out and be the tempo setter of the Middlesbrough attack.

Mbuyamba is a natural centre-back, but he has also played as a right full-back for Volendam, so if Edwards was to stick with his preferred back three, then the Dutchman would appear to be ideal for slotting in in either the middle or right centre-back role.

The loss of Van den Berg will of course be a frustrating one for Middlesbrough supporters, but the club’s unearthing of him in the first place should give them confidence of replacing him more than adequately, and rivalling Rangers for the potential arrival of Xavier Mbuyamba would appear a smart option.