Praet features: 2 free agents Middlesbrough should still be looking to sign | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at two free agents who Michael Carrick could look to snap up should he desire an extra bargain or two.

Middlesbrough enjoyed a strong summer of transfer business, keeping hold of their star players, whilst making quality additions to Michael Carrick's squad.

Aidan Morris, Delano Burgzorg, Tommy Conway and Neto Borges have all joined the club on permanent deals, whilst a busy transfer Deadline Day saw Premier League loanees Ben Doak and George Edmundson arrive from Liverpool and Ipswich Town respectively.

Boro have also been able to add Micah Hamilton and Luke Ayling on permanent deals, whilst they've seen some of their promising young players, such as Josh Coburn and Sonny Finch, head out on loan to earn some vital experience elsewhere.

The club remained true to their 'not for sale' stance regarding their key assets too, as interest in the likes of Rav van den Berg and Emmanuel Latte Lath was repelled, meaning Carrick appears to have a group of players that is capable of challenging for promotion this season.

But, should the Boro boss seek some further reinforcements to his squad, then there are some talented players on the free agent market who could make a difference.

FLW takes a look at two freebies that Middlesbrough should look to sign should the Teessiders desire further strength in depth.

Dennis Praet

Middlesbrough appears to have found their midfield partnership of the future with Hayden Hackney and Morris, but Carrick's strength in depth behind those two could be an area of the squad that the Boro head coach wishes to still strengthen.

36-year-old Jonny Howson is not getting any younger, and has already had the opening weeks of the season curtailed by injury. Dan Barlaser rounds off the senior options in the centre of midfield, and has been fairly inconsistent when given his opportunities in a Middlesbrough shirt.

Therefore, Carrick may wish to shore up his central midfield options behind his impressive starting duo, and if so, there's one player in particular who stands out as having the potential to add some top-class pedigree to the squad, Dennis Praet.

Playing in Belgium's national side as recently as 2022, the 30-year-old Praet has enjoyed a highly successful career that has seen him play for multiple years in leagues such as Serie A, and indeed the Premier League.

The Belgian has also made 17 Champions League appearances, and was part of the Belgium squad that reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, in which he made two appearances during that tournament.

An FA Cup and Community Shield winner with Leicester, he saw his five-year affiliation with the Foxes ended this summer, after the expiration of his contract at the King Power Stadium.

Signed by Leicester in 2019 for a reported fee of £18.4m, Praet had looked set to make a move to Serie A side Leece in mid-July, but as of yet, nothing has materialised for the experienced midfielder.

Having made 17 appearances in the Championship for Leicester last season, Praet has shown a willingness and ability to play at second tier level at this stage of his career, and would ensure that Hackney and Morris have a classy operator pushing them for starting opportunities with Boro.

Saman Ghoddos

If it's versatility that Carrick is after should he cast his eye over the free agent market, then his first stop should be that of former Brentford star, Saman Ghoddos.

Brentford even referred to him as their 'Swiss Army Knife' last season, after showcasing his ability to plug multiple gaps in Thomas Frank's side, making 19 Premier League appearances last term.

The Iranian international was released following the expiration of his contract this summer, bringing to an end a four-year stay with the Bees, which saw him play a key role in the club's promotion to the Premier League in 2020/21.

Ghoddos made 43 Championship appearances for the Bees that season, scoring three times whilst registering a further two assists. For the final three years of his Brentford career, he adopted more of a utility role in the Premier League, but has proven his value to the squad time and time again.

Southampton had been linked with the versatile midfielder this summer, but nothing has come of that interest so far, and Carrick should jump at the chance to add such a proven, experienced and valuable player to his Middlesbrough side.

Fully capable of playing in either full-back role, the centre of midfield and even out on the wing, Ghoddos would be a player that could do a job for his manager wherever he's asked to play, and would provide a starting quality player in multiple positions.