"Produce another Morgan Rogers" - Pundit reacts to imminent Middlesbrough, Man City transfer agreement | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has praised Middlesbrough for closing in on the signing of Micah Hamilton

EFL Pundit Carlton Palmer has lauded Middlesbrough for closing in on the permanent signing of Manchester City's Micah Hamilton.

Michael Carrick is poised to make the highly-rated winger his fourth capture of the transfer window, with Fabrizio Romano reporting of a £3.5m fee and an £11m buy-back clause being agreed between the two clubs.

Romano adds that the deal should go through upon the completion of some final details, which will see Hamilton join Aidan Morris, Delano Burgzorg and Luke Ayling in moving to the Riverside Stadium this summer.

The 20-year-old has made three senior appearances for Manchester City, scoring his first professional goal in their 3-2 UEFA Champions League group stage victory at Red Star Belgrade back in December.

Carlton Palmer reacts to Middlesbrough, Micah Hamilton news

Middlesbrough's impending signing has been praised by Palmer, who has lauded the club's strategy of snapping up young talent from Premier League clubs and believes that Hamilton can have a similar impact to Morgan Rogers.

"Fair play to the player. I love this where players want to go out and play. He wants to go out and play. He's a versatile forward, 20-year-old who can play anywhere across the top, he'd be a fantastic addition to Middlesbrough's ranks.

"Yes, of course this is the model that Middlesbrough use, bringing young players like the likes of Morgan Rogers, who has gone to sign for Aston Villa for an initial £8m fee which could eventually be worth £15m with add-ons.

"That's the type of player you want to be bringing to the club that you can improve, they can get regular first-team football, they can excel and you can move them on and make a profit. Those are the type of players you want to bring to the football club.

"He's made his debut for Man City, he's proven he can play at the highest level in the Champions League, he's been on their pre-season tour where he's done well, so this represents really good business from Middlesbrough. They're signing a really good young player.

"Credit to the player to get out and play and Middlesbrough are hoping he can go and have the same impact and they can produce another Morgan Rogers, because that's what it's all about at a club like Middlesbrough.

"They can't go out and bring in £20-30m players, they have to bring in players for reasonable fees that they can develop, improve and the byproduct of that is that they'll go on [to bigger things]. But in the meantime, Middlesbrough will hope they can get success on the field, which would be securing a play-off place next season."

Micah Hamilton is a smart signing for Middlesbrough

As Palmer makes reference to, Hamilton won't be the first young and exciting wide player to make the move from Man City to Middlesbrough in recent times.

Rogers was signed last summer and made such an impression that Villa decided to snap him in January en-route to securing Champions League qualification, and he's caught the eye in the Premier League thus far.

That's testament to Middlesbrough's shrewd sense of recruitment and Carrick's ability to develop young talent, which they'll be hoping can be replicated once Hamilton arrives in the North East.

Most at home as a left-winger, Hamilton can play on both sides and through the middle and possesses rich potential, having recently grabbed an assist for City in their pre-season defeat to AC Milan.

His pedigree is outstanding and there's an element of shock about him even heading to the Championship, a level at which you'd expect the youngster to flourish. The long-term intention will be for Middlesbrough to harvest a profit, which they will do if City decide to activate their buy-back clause.