'You can't blame Steve Gibson' - Middlesbrough transfer claim dropped | OneFootball

FLW's Middlesbrough fan pundit doesn't believe that Steve Gibson is to blame for what has been a slow start to the summer transfer window

Middlesbrough's start to the summer transfer window hasn't been the quickest compared to some of their Championship peers, and worries are perhaps starting to seep in ahead of Kim Hellberg's first full campaign in charge.

Boro ran out of steam towards the end of last season, winning just two of their final 10 league games and then failing to win any of their three play-off outings, either.

Some of that was down to a lack of potency and cutting edge in attacking areas, but the squad depth as a whole was a slight issue, as Kim Hellberg didn't have many people to call on to come on and change games.

The potential of this club under the Swedish boss is massive, and many around the Riverside feel that a return to the Premier League could be on the cards for the first time since the 2016/17 term, but a slow start to the summer transfer window has quelled some of that excitement.

Middlesbrough have lost two influential academy products in club captain Dael Fry and reigning Championship player of the year Hayden Hackney, and thus far have signed only Myles Peart-Harris and Kyle Joseph.

Middlesbrough fan pundit believes signings will take time this summer

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Boro fans have watched on as some of their Championship promotion rivals have strengthened.

Millwall have brought in four players, Norwich City splashed the cash to bring in Andre Brooks for £8 million, Wolves have started to spend fees on players and on Wednesday, Southampton announced the £9 million arrival of Lewis Dobbin.

While Middlesbrough have made signings of their own, Peart-Harris on a free after being relegated with Oxford United, albeit having plenty of potential, and Joseph, who scored just eight times last season at Hull City, could be seen as somewhat underwhelming in comparison.

But, FLW's Boro fan pundit, Liam Day, isn't willing to pile on pressure on popular owner Steve Gibson to do more to invest and bolster Kim Hellberg's squad, believing that transfer windows can be long, stressful periods and deals aren't always straightforward.

"You can't blame Steve Gibson," he said. "With how much goes into every transfer these days, it can be a long, drawn-out process with finances and every club's situation.

"I think Steve Gibson will always spend the maximum he possibly can as long as he feels it to be right and it to be for the best for the club. I'll never criticise him."

Gibson is a lifelong Middlesbrough fan and has been the club's chairman since 1994. He's taken the club through plenty of ups and downs, from League Cup wins to European finals to relegation into the Championship.

Day fully believes that the 68-year-old is right for the job and wants what's best for the club, which ultimately is to get back to the Premier League.

"I think Steve Gibson is one of the best owners in the EFL," the fan pundit continued. "He'll do what's best for the club, and it's down to people like Kieran Scott [Boro's Head of Football] to convince players and get the deals done.

"So I don't think you can blame Gibson. He's one of the best owners, and you can never doubt what he does for this club."

Middlesbrough ready to trust in Steve Gibson this summer

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Steve Gibson has admitted that he doesn't think that Middlesbrough are ready to compete next season with the squad they have at the current moment, but insisted that he and the rest of the board are busy bringing more players to the Riverside.

Ultimately, Boro fans have to trust that their owner will make the right decisions and sign the right personnel to fit into Kim Hellberg's system, which they should have no issues with doing.

Gibson has proven time and time again that he's got the best interests of the club at heart and that he wants to be the man to oversee success at the Riverside once more. Ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive campaign, he'll have to work extra hard to ensure that.