Middlesbrough can haunt Plymouth Argyle with familiar Morgan Whittaker trick | OneFootball

Middlesbrough should look to sign Lorent Tolaj from Plymouth Argyle this summer to resolve their goalscoring troubles

Middlesbrough will surely be heading into the 2026/27 Championship campaign with a vengeance, having narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last time around, as Kim Hellberg's side strap themselves in for a busy summer transfer window.

The 2025/26 season ended in heartbreak for Boro, losing out to Hull City in the play-off final courtesy of Oli McBurnie's late strike to send the Tigers back to the Premier League instead.

In truth, Middlesbrough only have themselves to blame, slipping away from the automatic places in the latter stages of the season, winning just two of their final ten league games, and though their place in the final was confirmed due to Southampton's exemption due to spying despite defeat to the Saints in the semi-final, they were unable to take advantage of their second or third chance.

This is despite more often than not dominating the majority of games they played, both in terms of possession and touches in the opposition box, as per FotMob, with Hellberg's fluid style of play producing some of the best football in the division from a neutral perspective.

However, their lack of a clinical touch in front of goal ultimately cost them promotion, as the Swedish head coach must look to address this issue this summer by haunting Plymouth Argyle.

Middlesbrough should aim to haunt Plymouth Argyle again after Morgan Whittaker deal by making a move for Lorent Tolaj

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Up top, Middlesbrough scored the third-most goals in the Championship last season (72), behind only Coventry City and Ipswich Town, and according to FotMob, scored almost their exact expected goals tally (72.1).

Whilst this is not a bad tally by any means, when considering the fact that each of Coventry, Ipswich, Southampton, and Hull City all outperformed their expected goals, Boro's area of downfall becomes clear.

Both Morgan Whittaker (14) and Tommy Conway (13) hit double digits for goals in the Boro squad, which, whilst neither is an insignificant amount, the bulk of Whittaker's goals came in purple patches, whilst four of Conway's came from the penalty spot.

Whittaker, 25, made the move to Teesside from Plymouth Argyle in January 2025 for around £5 million, and though it would take him a while to net his first goal, over nine months to be exact, he has proven to be a solid addition off the right flank or through the middle.

However, with Conway struggling to hit the back of the net with the consistency required to fire Boro to the top-flight, Hellberg ought to have a new centre-forward as a priority heading into the summer, and should complete a similar trick of 18 months ago by heading back to Plymouth to poach Swiss forward Lorent Tolaj.

Tolaj, 24, came through the ranks at Brighton, and following his release from the Seagulls, has ventured as low as the fifth tier with Aldershot Town, before moves to Port Vale and Plymouth followed, the latter of whom he joined from the Valiants just last summer after his £1.2 million release clause was triggered.

Now, Tolaj could be about to continue his upward trajectory through the English division, with strong Championship interest from the likes of Preston North End, Stoke City, and Norwich City, as Boro should join the race.

When it comes to striking a deal, Plymouth sit firmly in the driving seat, with Tolaj's terms in Devon lasting until the summer of 2029, whilst it was also previously revealed by Pilgrims boss Tom Cleverley that his deal does not contain a release clause.

Scottish giants Celtic have also stated an interest, as Plymouth CEO Paul Berne has put a price tag of at least £3 million on Tolaj's head, though with interest high, it's expected that number will only increase.

Tolaj scored 18 and notched eight assists from just 33 league games last season, taking to Home Park like a duck to water, and as he looks to take the next step, Boro should be there to give him the platform to do so.

Middlesbrough will almost certainly be able to afford the fee Plymouth are demanding, as well as Tolaj's wages, and with the potential to take their attack to the next level, his addition seems like a no-brainer for a side which has lacked an out-and-out goalscorer.

Tolaj's eight assists also indicate that he is a team player, and more than capable of setting up teammates, something which Hellberg would massively endorse, as Boro should look to haunt Plymouth after their Whittaker move with another for Tolaj this summer.

Kim Hellberg must address Middlesbrough's striker issue this summer and must consider a move for Plymouth Argyle's Lorent Tolaj

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Whilst Hellberg has never held back in his support and admiration for Conway, the former Bristol City forward simply hasn't been able to hit the heights needed of him as a centre-forward in the Championship, and could do with some competition next season.

Tolaj would be the perfect fit for Middlesbrough, having proven his ability to find the back of the net year after year with different teams in increasingly difficult leagues, and appears ready to make the jump to the second tier and follow in the footsteps of Whittaker.

As a completely different option to Conway up front, Tolaj would be an excellent fit at the Riverside, and one Hellberg simply must get done this summer.