Middlesbrough must iron out Delano Burgzorg issue to feel true impact: View | OneFootball

The former Huddersfield Town man will hope to have a more productive campaign at The Riverside in 24/25

Middlesbrough wasted no time in agreeing a deal to bring Delano Burgzorg to The Riverside this summer, with the striker making the move to the North East from Bundesliga outfit Mainz 05.

The 25-year-old signed a four-year deal with the Teessiders, after featuring for relegated-side Huddersfield Town in the previous campaign, as he got his first taste of the English game.

While the Dutchman showed flashes of what he can produced during his time in Yorkshire, a return rate of just seven goals in 35 appearances leaves a lot to be desire ahead of the upcoming campaign, with Michael Carrick hoping for a greater influence in the year ahead.

Although the frontman may not have had the service to flourish during his time with the Terriers, it is a record that will need improving if he is going to stake his claim for a starting berth in the 24/25 season, with big things expected as Boro plan for another play-off push.

Delano Burgzorg must improve on Huddersfield Town stint to make Middlesbrough move worthwhile

In truth, Burgzorg has never been the most prolific of strikers during his career to date, with the season spent with the Championship relegation battlers seeing him register his best scoring record in his career.

With five goals in 26 Eredivisie matches for De Graafschap during his teenage years, and another five in 32 for Heracles, the frontman has never set the world alight in front of goal, just as a goalless Bundesliga campaign with Mainz in 22/23 will attest to.

That’s not to say that the striker hasn’t shown his quality during his time in England, with his first goal for the Terriers coming in just his third appearance for his temporary side, with a well taken opener in a 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion last September.

Whether he is running down the flanks or terrorising defenders in a more central position, Burgzorg has proven himself to be a handful for many a Championship defender during the past 12 months, and if he adds more regular goals to his game he will no doubt contribute to Boro’s impending promotion push.

The quality of the players alongside him will no doubt make a difference in the campaign to come, with the underlying numbers proving that the Dutchman has the talents necessary to make him a top talent in an upwardly mobile squad.

A goals per shot return of 0.11 sees the frontman sit alongside the likes of Morgan Whittaker, and Stephy Mavididi from the previous campaign, while his 0.94 shots on target per 90 minutes is on par with Coventry City maverick Callum O’Hare.

With an average shot taken from 17.0 yards in his role as a frontman, the figures show that the former Terrier was rarely given the chance to excel in the penalty box during his time at the John Smith’s Stadium, a place where every striker likes to patrol.

In fact, Burgzorg outperformed his xG for the previous season by 2.8 goals, which proves he is actually a much more talented striker than the numbers give I’m credit for, just he was playing with his hands tied for much of the previous campaign.

That figure sees him rank above the likes of Willie Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville throughout 23/24, as well as O’Hare and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, which goes to prove that Boro could have made an astute signing this summer that many may have overlooked.

Michael Carrick ‘excited’ after Middlesbrough add Delano Burgzorg to attacking lineup

Carrick is still very much putting his side together ahead of the impending 24/25 campaign, but the early business of tying Burgzorg and Aidan Morris down has been welcome news so far.

played over 80 times for the Ohio-based side.

Boro boss Carrick was over the moon with the acquisition of Burgzorg last month, with the former Manchester United man saying: “We’re really happy to bring him in. He experienced the league last season, and we’re excited about what he’s capable of doing.

“He’s a threat and will be real asset because he has different types of attributes to what we already have. He’s a good addition to the squad and being able to get things done early means he will be here for the start of pre-season.”

With the likes of Emmanuel Latte Lath and Marcus Forss for company in the striker department, as well as the creative ability of Finn Azaz, Isaiah Jones and Hayden Hackney in the final third, Boro may see a different side to Burgzorg than the one Huddersfield saw in the previous campaign.