Middlesbrough should eye departed Rangers FC player as 1 of 3 possible free agent recruits | OneFootball

Boro have used the free agent market well in recent years, and there are some interesting options available should they dip in to it again this month.

Middlesbrough have utilised the free agent market to their benefit in recent years, and there are some intriguing players available should Michael Carrick wish to add further depth to his promotion-chasing Boro side at some point this season.

Luke Ayling is Middlesbrough's most recent free agent success story, as at the conclusion of his highly fruitful loan spell with the club in the second half of last season, Boro made capturing his permanent signature upon his release from Leeds United priority number one this summer.

Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith were snapped up by Middlesbrough on free agent deals too, and both have played an important role for the club when fit.

Under the stewardship of Carrick and head of football Kieran Scott, Boro have become highly shrewd operators when it comes to player recruitment in recent times, and will no doubt always explore any possible avenue that could lead to their squad being improved. As things stand, they have a 25-man squad, but across the winter months, things can change and the freebie market is always worth considering.

So, Football League World takes a look at three potential free agent signings that Middlesbrough could look to make in October.

Wayne Hennessey - GK

Wayne Hennessey has enjoyed a highly successful individual career, that has seen the Welshman make almost 200 Premier League appearances and close to 100 in the Championship.

The former Welsh international is vastly experienced at the top level, and would provide a safe and proven pair of hands should Seny Dieng miss time through injury like the Senegal international did last season.

At face value, Middlesbrough don't appear to need another goalkeeper adding to the mix, with Dieng being the clear number one, leaving Tom Glover and Sol Brynn to battle it out for the backup job.

But, it's Brynn who looks to have won that battle, and with Glover about to enter his prime years, he will likely want to spend those as the number one, leaving his Middlesbrough future uncertain even beyond the coming January window.

By signing a proven veteran in Hennessey, Boro would be able to cash in on the Australian, and ensure they aren't left with just two senior goalkeeping options for the business end of the campaign.

Edouard Michut - CM

A name that may be familiar to a fair number of Middlesbrough fans given his time with local rivals Sunderland, Edouard Michut's career has taken a couple of surprising twists in recent times.

The French youth international graduated from Paris Saint-Germain's academy system, and was handed multiple first team opportunities at the Parc des Princes between 2021-2022.

Michut would spend the 2022/23 season on loan with Sunderland, in which he made 28 appearances in all competitions, scoring once.

The central midfielder put in some impressive performances in a Black Cats shirt, but never truly on enough of a consistent basis, and so he would return to PSG in June last year.

Turkish side Adana Demirspor would activate a permanent option in his initial loan deal in January, but come this summer, Michut opted to cancel his contract following a dispute over late payments of wages being the main reason as to why he took that course of action.

Now a free agent at just 21, Michut is a player who clearly has an abundance of talent and potential, and certainly falls into the low-risk, high-reward category.

Boro have specialised in sourcing and developing central midfield players under Carrick, with Hayden Hackney and Aidan Morris shining examples of that, and with Jonny Howson and Dan Barlaser facing uncertain futures on Teesside, adding a talented youngster with top-level pedigree into the mix wouldn't be the worst idea.

Kemar Roofe - ST

A player who will be familiar to Boro fans from his time in English football with the likes of Leeds United, Oxford United and West Brom respectively, Kemar Roofe has endured a frustrating spell with Scottish giants Rangers over the last few years.

The centre-forward's opening two seasons as a Rangers player were highly impressive, scoring 18 goals in 36 appearances in 2020/21, before finding the net 16 times in 36 appearances in 2021/22.

Injuries would soon derail his Ibrox career, however, as the Jamaican international would make just six appearances in 2022/23, before enjoying a more productive season last term, in which he made 24 appearances, scoring twice and providing one assist.

Roofe's ability to score goals and play well at a high level has never been in question, and still only 31, he should have a couple of good seasons ahead of him still, should he stay fit.

With the potential for Emmanuel Latte Lath to seek a move in January not out of the question, and whilst summer signing Tommy Conway still adapting to his new surroundings and his role in the team, there is a plausible scenario in which Boro could be in need of another striker this season.

Bringing in Roofe would provide depth should Lath leave, and even if he doesn't, injuries could well strike Middlesbrough's forward department. With Lath and Conway being Boro's only natural centre-forward options, the former Rangers man could be a nice safety blanket for Carrick to fall back on if needed.