Middlesbrough might have found Morgan Rogers 2.0 | OneFootball

Leo Castledine's arrival at Middlesbrough could be just as impactful as Morgan Rogers' switch in 2023

Middlesbrough could repeat the same trick with Leo Castledine as they managed with the signing of Morgan Rogers from Manchester City in 2023, with the now-England international going on to achieve stardom with Aston Villa following his brief stay on Teesside.

Middlesbrough came out of nowhere to complete a permanent swoop for Castledine last week in a deal reported to be worth a little under £1 million from Chelsea.

The midfielder lit up League One in the first half of the campaign, contributing 10 goals and two assists for Huddersfield Town from 23 appearances.

This has earned him a move to the Championship with Kim Hellberg’s side, who will be hoping he can play a key role in helping the club contend for promotion to the Premier League.

Castledine is an extremely exciting prospect for Boro supporters, and if he can make a smooth transition up the English football pyramid mid-season, then he could have the potential to follow in very similar footsteps to Rogers.

The Aston Villa forward is now a candidate for Thomas Tuchel’s England side at the World Cup this summer and it was at Middlesbrough where his career really began to take off.

Leo Castledine can follow in Morgan Rogers’ footsteps at Middlesbrough

Castledine could prove one of the signings of the January transfer window if he can break into Middlesbrough’s first team squad and maintain his impressive level of performances from League One.

The 20-year-old had no future at Chelsea despite his displays in Lee Grant’s side, which is similar to Rogers.

The attacking midfielder had spent the campaign on loan at Blackpool prior to signing for Middlesbrough, and it was clear that he had no immediate pathway into the Manchester City first team under Pep Guardiola.

The Premier League side will now be kicking themselves for their decision to cash in on Rogers, as his goal scoring form as part of Michael Carrick’s side earned him a move to Aston Villa, where he has gone on to become one the standout players in the top flight.

Rogers had a slow start to life at the Riverside, and some patience will be needed by supporters with Castledine.

It wasn’t until 21 October that he bagged his first Championship goal, scoring as a substitute to earn all three points against Birmingham City.

But by 20 January, Rogers had seven goals and four assists to his name and that was enough to grab Unai Emery’s attention.

Leo Castledine can be a difference maker for Middlesbrough

Castledine will need to be wary of last year’s exciting prospect from League One Louie Barry, who had 15 goals to his name before he made the jump to the Championship in January.

That’s a warning that the step up from the third to the second division won’t be straightforward.

However, if he can hit the ground running then there’s no doubt he could have a big impact in Hellberg’s side.

The smaller than £1 million fee could look like a real bargain by the summer if Middlesbrough are competing in the Premier League next season and he’s had a role to play.

In that scenario, Castledine could even go one step further in cementing himself as a firm favourite among supporters compared to Rogers as it would be difficult to see him being sold after just six months if the club are back in the top flight.

At Huddersfield, the midfielder showed his attacking prowess and his versatility, and that will make him a very valuable asset in the long run for the Teesside outfit.

He can play in a deeper or more advanced role, and he is even comfortable contributing from a wide position, which should make him suitable to Hellberg’s attacking team.

While Man City may be kicking themselves for letting Rogers join Middlesbrough in 2023, Chelsea could be doing the same with Castledine in the years to come.