USA international set to sign for Middlesbrough? Boro transfer truth emerges | OneFootball

The truth regarding Max Arfsten's move to Middlesbrough has been revealed

Middlesbrough's summer window is yet to fully click into gear, but things are slowly heating up at the Riverside, as Kim Hellberg tries to right the wrongs from last campaign with some key additions, and the truth regarding one of their primary targets has become clear.

Middlesbrough's defeat to Hull City in the play-off final last campaign will surely still sting, but there is nothing the club can do but put that disappointment behind them and go again.

Swedish head coach Kim Hellberg will be busy preparing for his first pre-season with Boro, having taken charge nine months ago, and will be looking to make some key additions in specific areas.

With the likes of Dael Fry, Hayden Hackney, and Matt Targett having left the club, it would be fair to suggest that they are a lot weaker heading into next year at this stage, though the free addition of Myles Peart-Harris and the £5 million capture of Kyle Joseph will go some way to alleviating fears of the supporters.

However, more additions are a necessity at the Riverside, and as Boro weigh up moves elsewhere, the truth regarding their swoop for an international midfielder has emerged.

Middlesbrough are tracking USMNT international Max Arfsten as talks with Columbus continue

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Middlesbrough, after the signings of Peart-Harris and Joseph, don't appear to be ramping things down anytime soon, with, in fact, the opposite happening.

Boro had an interest in Aston Villa's Lewis Dobbin prior to his £9 million switch to Southampton recently, as the Teesside outfit continue to look through their shortlist.

Now, Hellberg's side look to have moved on to other targets, as it was reported last Saturday by The Yorkshire Post that Boro were progressing in talks for USA international Max Arfsten.

Arfsten, 25, has long been on Boro's radar, with interest heading back almost over a year ago now, but they have since rekindled their hopes of luring the American to the Riverside.

Capable of playing anywhere down the left flank, the Columbus Crew star was called up to Mauricio Pochettino's squad for the recent World Cup, but failed to make a single appearance.

A former teammate of current Boro midfielder Aidan Morris at both Columbus and in the USA national team, it was reported by Pete O'Rourke on Wednesday morning that Middlesbrough were in advanced talks with Arfsten, as the player prepares to travel to England to finalise a move.

However, The Northern Echo understand that no move is imminent, and whilst Boro certainly have an interest in the midfielder, no deal is yet close.

With 20 goals and 20 assists in 112 appearances across all competitions for Columbus, Arfsten appears ready to take the next step in his career, with a move to Teesside looking like a real possibility.

Targett's exit leaves Neto Borges, Finley Munroe, and Alex Bangura as options at left-back in Boro's current ranks, but Hellberg doesn't seem keen on any and is actively looking for a replacement.

It can be assumed that Arfsten would fill that gap on the left side of defence, though capable of playing further forward, he could also deputise on the left flank and provide competition to Jeremy Sarmiento and Sontje Hansen.

Middlesbrough are certainly interested in the 25-year-old, but no move appears close despite initial reports, though it would be no surprise to see Arfsten in Boro colours in the next weeks or months.

Kim Hellberg has a huge summer on his hands at Middlesbrough amid the truth around Max Arfsten emerging

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With Boro having missed out on promotion in agonising fashion, Hellberg will be keen to come back with a vengeance next time around.

A run of just two wins in their final ten league games, defeat in the play-off semi-final before Southampton's expulsion from the competition gave them a lifeline, and subsequent defeat in the final to Hull would have been a bitter pill to swallow for Hellberg.

He, more than almost anyone, will be keen to ensure a similar fate doesn't await Middlesbrough next year, and the addition of Arfsten would go some way to helping that be the case.

Whilst negotiations are not as far down the line as previously thought, interest in the American is rife, and it would be little surprise to anyone to see a deal progress in the coming days and weeks.