Middlesbrough player tipped for January exit - "it won't be too difficult" for him to find a club | OneFootball

FLW’s Boro fan pundit has commented on the future of shot-stopper Seny Dieng.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Middlesbrough have made a brilliant start to life under Rob Edwards but face their first big test following the international break after being handed their first defeat of the season.

The Teesside outfit currently sit second and in the automatic promotion places after nine games, taking 18 points from a possible 27 on offer and optimistic about a promotion push back to the Premier League.

But Boro did lose their first game of the campaign last weekend, going down 1-0 to Portsmouth at Fratton Park in an encounter that saw them register just one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

It was a disappointing way to go into the two-week layoff, but Edwards and the coaching staff will be aiming to utilise that time to assess where it went wrong and ensure performances don’t slip to what was seen on the South Coast on a regular basis.

Boro get the Championship action back underway in matchday 10 on the 17th October with a clash underneath the floodlights when they host Ipswich Town, while a midweek away trip to Sheffield Wednesday and another home clash against Wrexham follow.

Meanwhile, one player who hasn’t been able to contribute to Boro’s fine start to the season is goalkeeper Seny Dieng.

The Senegalese international has been out of action for the last 10 months with an Achilles injury, and after a failed deadline-day move to QPR, could be set to depart in the January transfer window, as per the Northern Echo.

But Edwards has expressed positivity at seeing Dieng almost making a return to the matchday squad, with his future at Boro very much up in the air as the new year approaches.

With this in mind, FLW’s Middlesbrough fan pundit has commented on what he thinks the club should do with Dieng heading into the January transfer window.

Middlesbrough, Seny Dieng January exit “makes perfect sense”

Speaking to Football League World, Middlesbrough fan pundit Liam Day believes that Boro should be looking to move Seny Dieng on in January when he returns to full fitness, believing he won’t be able to oust Sol Brynn as first-choice shot-stopper.

Liam said: “It makes perfect sense to lose Seny Dieng.

“He had a good first season and then the season after he’s been a bit disastrous, obviously picked up his injury and hasn’t played since, there’s also been reports of him having a bad attitude. I know he didn’t like Michael Carrick too much, and I can see him moving on.

“He’s a solid Championship keeper. I’m sure it won’t be too difficult to find a club for him, so I think it’s best for all parties if they were to move on really.

“Sol Brynn has staked his claim as our number one, and I don’t see him getting replaced anytime soon, especially with Seny Dieng, who hasn’t played and, when he was playing, was in poor form and most fans wanted him out anyway, so I can definitely see Seny Dieng being moved on in January, and it makes sense for everyone involved.”

Middlesbrough should look to cash in on Seny Dieng

When it comes to the goalkeeping department, Middlesbrough look very solid in that area with Sol Brynn in between the sticks and Jon McLaughlin deputising as number two.

With Seny Dieng, he’s had his rough moments in the Boro goal and was viewed as a liability given his past performances last season.

He’s also coming back from a major injury, and there’s no guarantee he won’t break down again and spend another lengthy period on the treatment table while taking up an estimated £10,000 a week wage.

It seems like its Middlesbrough’s last chance to command a decent fee for him too, with the 30-year-old’s contract running down in 2027, while there should still be some second-tier suitors due to his previous experience in the division.

An influx of cash could go a long way to improving the squad further and cementing themselves in the promotion conversation in January. The club already has two dependable goalkeepers to choose from, and it’s an avenue of income that should be explored when the new year comes around.