Middlesbrough plot move for 25-year-old - but there is one financial issue that may prevent deal | OneFootball

Boro are understood to be keen on reuniting Rob Edwards with one of the biggest individual success stories of his Luton Town era.

Middlesbrough are reportedly keen to reunite Rob Edwards with Alfie Doughty this summer, but striking a deal with Luton Town won't be easy.

Edwards has had the last week to settle into his new role and surroundings as Boro head coach, and attention is now firmly being turned to recruitment.

Numerous Championship clubs have already made moves to strengthen their respective squads, and whilst Middlesbrough won't be too concerned given most of those players won't have been targets for them anyway, they have just seen Kaine Kesler-Hayden snub a move to Teesside in favour of signing for Coventry City.

However, with Edwards' feet now under the desk, the Teessiders will surely look to ramp up their summer recruitment drive in the coming weeks, and one target has just been solidified as being of interest to Boro.

Middlesbrough keen on reuniting Luton Town star Alfie Doughty with Rob Edwards

Ever since Edwards' appointment as Middlesbrough head coach, supporters have naturally been speculating over the potential interest in a move for Doughty this summer.

Understandably so too, as not only has he proven himself to be an excellent player at Championship level, he's also a player in a position of need for Boro: left-back/left wing-back.

So, it will come as exciting news to many Boro fans to see The Northern Echo confirming on Monday that the 25-year-old is indeed a player that the club are keen on signing this summer.

It's understood that Middlesbrough will continue to monitor his situation with the Hatters, and is a player that Boro's recruitment team have long held in high regard, with enquiries over his availability having been made previously.

Left wing-back is said to be an area of the pitch that Boro's chiefs will look to strengthen this summer, but potentially only when additions have been made in their priority departments, which are: centre-back, right wing-back, central midfielder, wide forward and striker.

One key issue could prevent Middlesbrough striking Alfie Doughty deal - money

As such, Middlesbrough fans may want to just hold off from purchasing the welcome balloons just yet, and there's another potential stumbling block to a Doughty deal too - money.

Indeed, despite Luton's relegation to League One for the 2025/26 season, that doesn't mean there's going to be a fire sale at Kenilworth Road this summer.

The Hatters will be looking to ensure they receive a fair price for any sale they comission, and Doughty isn't going to be any different - in fact, he may well be the most expensive item of the Luton lot.

That's in large part down to his importance to the club, and his production and performance levels for the Hatters over the last few seasons, but his contract situation will also be driving up the asking price too.

Doughty only put pen to paper on a new long-term extension in September of last year, meaning Town are in a strong position when it comes to being able to demand and hold out for whatever fee they deem is fair for him.

The Northern Echo acknowledges that because of these factors, Luton's asking price for their talismanic defender will be high.

Boro do have some in-house options to become the new full-time starter at left wing-back for next season onwards too, with Alex Bangura, Neto Borges and George McCormick all available to Edwards.

Therefore, whilst he is evidently a player Middlesbrough would like to add to their squad this summer, with a promotion push the clear remit for next term, securing Doughty's signature may well prove complicated, with the potential for a summer-long saga to develop.