Michael Carrick favour can help Middlesbrough recover from Matt Targett blow | OneFootball

Middlesbrough should look to sign Harry Amass on loan from Manchester United this summer following Matt Targett's exit

Middlesbrough's overwhelmingly positive campaign ended in the most heartbreaking way imaginable, as Kim Hellberg looks to dust his side down and head into next season with the intent of going one better, with a strong summer transfer window required.

Middlesbrough started the season off in excellent form under former boss Rob Edwards, with the Teesside outfit undefeated in each of their opening eight league games and winning five.

However, as November rolled around, Edwards would receive an offer from then Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the Welshman jumped ship to allow Swedish boss Kim Hellberg to take the reins.

Under Hellberg, Boro played some of the best football the Championship has seen, with his free-flowing, high energy, high possession, work the ball into the box philosophy seeing Middlesbrough dominate games on the regular.

Full-backs were one of the main beneficiaries of his setup, with both Matt Targett and Callum Brittain taking up more advanced roles when Boro was in possession, often finding themselves in the box with the rest of the attackers.

Though Middlesbrough were unable to turn this consistent domination into three points often enough, slipping out of the top two and into the play-offs, where they would head to the final despite defeat to Southampton in the semi-finals after the Saints were expelled for alleged spying, but were unable to take advantage of that second chance as Hull City defeated them 1-0 late on at Wembley.

Now, Targett's loan from Newcastle United has ended, and with a permanent return uncertain, Hellberg ought to be on the phone to Manchester United to ask former Boro boss Michael Carrick for a favour.

Middlesbrough should look to sign Harry Amass on loan from Man United

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Targett, 30, was, more often than not, Middlesbrough's starting left-back last campaign, with the Newcastle loanee excelling under Hellberg.

The Englishman covered at centre-back on a few occasions when Boro were struggling with injury woes, and he stepped into the role with great effect alongside Adilson Malanda.

Now, Targett's deal at Newcastle is set to come to an end at the end of the month, when he will be a free agent, and Middlesbrough will essentially be able to bring him to the club permanently for nothing.

However, according to TEAMtalk, both Leeds United and Everton have previously registered an interest in the defender that the Magpies once paid Aston Villa £15 million to sign some four years ago, and if a Premier League contract comes his way, it's likely he will favour that over a permanent switch to Teesside.

Derby County have also been credited with interest, and should Targett indeed snub Boro, Hellberg must already be prepared for that scenario, and ought to have Manchester United youngster Harry Amass high up on his shortlist of targets this summer.

Amass, 19, spent the first half of last campaign on loan with Sheffield Wednesday, where he earned multiple Player of the Month awards for his performances at left-back for the struggling Owls, in what was his first taste of regular first-team football.

The youngster would make 21 Championship appearances on loan in South Yorkshire, scoring once and assisting once, before the Red Devils recalled him in January and subsequently sent him back out on loan to Championship rivals Norwich City.

However, Amass would play just 15 minutes of football for the Canaries before picking up a season-ending injury in training, returning to Old Trafford shortly after to begin his rehabilitation.

With the teenager unlikely to gain valuable minutes for Man United next season, Hellberg should be on the phone to former Boro boss Carrick in an attempt to bring Amass to the Riverside on loan.

The left-back is one of the brightest talents to come through the Red Devils ranks in years, and crucial development time cannot be wasted. Having proven his quality in defence and going forward during his time with Wednesday, he could thrive under the Swede at Boro.

Hellberg ought to forget about Targett and turn his attentions to Amass, who will likely have strong interest from numerous Championship clubs this summer, but Boro must ensure that they are at the front of the queue to secure this potentially season-defining signing.

Harry Amass can help take Middlesbrough to the next level

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Having missed out on promotion to the Premier League in one of the most brutal fashions, Hellberg will be more than keen to make amends next campaign.

The Swede is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the second tier, and when Boro were at their best under him, few teams in the Championship were capable of stopping them.

A few key areas will be in need of addressing this summer, including centre-forward, goalkeeper, midfield, and left-back, as Hellberg looks to stamp his authority on the Boro squad.