Middlesbrough eyeing up loan swoop for ex-Ipswich Town promotion winner | OneFootball

Jeremy Sarmiento has emerged as a name on Kim Hellberg's transfer shortlist

Middlesbrough are reportedly interested in a loan move for Brighton and Hove Albion winger, Jeremy Sarmiento, who is currently on loan with Serie A outfit, Cremonese.

It has been widely reported that the Championship's automatic promotion hopefuls are big admirers of the 24-time Ecuadorian international, whose immediate future at the AMEX Stadium under the management of Fabian Hürzeler remains uncertain.

The current transfer window, which remains open until 7PM on Monday, February 2nd, is being viewed as a critical timeframe for several sides currently residing in the Championship - particularly those who continue to harbour aspirations of promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season.

In what is Kim Hellberg's first opportunity to reshape his squad at the Riverside Stadium after replacing Rob Edwards in November, Middlesbrough very much remain in that conversation, reminding everyone of just how feared they can be in the promotion race, ending a run of four successive games without a goal with a 4-0 rout against ex-Premier League side, Southampton, on Sunday afternoon.

Prior to the current window, a fair portion of the transfer-related discourse which had been generated in this part of the North East focused on the potential future of star midfielder and academy graduate, Hayden Hackney,

However, whilst the club's stance on the situation involving their prized asset remains unchanged, it is also unsurprising that their Swedish boss is looking to bolster several departments - in particular, his creative and attacking forces, which had somewhat faltered in recent weeks despite a sustained high level of general performances.

Sarmiento, of course, is no stranger to supporters of many Championship sides, having previously enjoyed three loan spells in the English second tier away from the Seagulls with West Bromwich Albion, Ipswich Town and, most recently, Burnley.

Middlesbrough plot transfer move for two-time Championship promotion winner Jeremy Sarmiento

It was first reported by the Northern Echo on Tuesday night that Middlesbrough hold an interest in signing Sarmiento, who has a previous record of nine goals and two assists across 75 Championship appearances for the Baggies, Tractor Boys and Clarets.

Of course, the 23-year-old, who also spent time in the Charlton Athletic academy ranks as a youngster, won automatic promotion at both Portman Road and Turf Moor - a feat which the Reds will be hoping to emulate at the end of the campaign, having been exiled from the Premier League themselves since May 2017.

The Ecuador international attacker figured much more prominently in Ipswich's promotion campaign than Burnley's, scoring a crucial winner late on in the 2023-24 season for Town against Southampton, whereas with the Clarets he was often used as a substitute in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign.

The aforementioned publication state that Sarmiento is amongst a clutch of names that have emerged on transfer shortlists at the Riverside Stadium, and that the club's recruitment team and coaching staff have explored the possibility of striking a deal.

It has been claimed that whilst early talks have been initiated between the various parties, they are not close to the stage in which any deal has been agreed.

The report continues by stating that it remains to be seen how many attacking-based reinforcements will be sourced by the Teesside outfit between now and the transfer deadline early next month, as Hellberg looks to strike the perfect balance in his squad, which already boasts the likes of Morgan Whittaker, Sam Silvera, Micah Hamilton, Alex Gilbert and Sverre Nypan as creative options who can feature behind the main striker, which is often Tommy Conway, Kaly Sene or David Strelec.

Sarmiento's services were courted by Brazilian Serie A outfit, Cruzeiro, in the summer. However, the Madrid-born Ecuadorian international reportedly expressed an interest in remaining in Europe, subsequently joining Italian top flight newcomers, Cremonese on another temporary basis.

However, he has not featured at the Stadio Giovanni Zini since a 1-0 defeat to Pisa on November 7th, having made just 7 appearances in Serie A since his loan switch was confirmed.

It is expected that another loan move will be sanctioned by Brighton with his future in Serie A plunged into doubt after yet another squad omission against Fiorentina last weekend.

Some of the aforementioned names currently on Boro's books have failed to source regular minutes this term, or, in Nypan's case, have the desired impact since moving from the Etihad Stadium.

Plenty of options available to Hellberg are extremely versatile, meaning that it feels rather obvious as to why Sarmiento has emerged as a potential loan signing.

And, as previously mentioned, his time with Cremonese appears to be up, with there being no suggestion that injuries have played a part in his two-month-long absence.

Sarmiento is still under contract at the AMEX until June 2027 too, meaning that Brighton could use the remaining months of his season, which may come on Teesside, to help make a crucial decision in the summer as he enters the final 12 months of said deal.