Middlesbrough must plot Coventry City swoop after Dael Fry blunder | OneFootball

Middlesbrough should consider a move for out-of-favour Coventry City defender Luke Woolfenden following Dael Fry's departure

Middlesbrough will be keen to right their wrongs from last season with another promotion push next time around, as Kim Hellberg prepares to orchestrate a strong summer window on Teesside.

Under Swedish head coach Hellberg, Middlesbrough played some scintillating football. Though, unfortunately for Boro supporters, they could not translate that into three points often enough.

Just two wins in their final ten league games saw them slip out of the automatic places, with each of Ipswich Town, Millwall, and Southampton overtaking them, relegating them to a place in the play-offs.

Southampton's expulsion from the competition for spying gave Hellberg's side a lifeline, though it would be one they could not take, as Hull City prevailed in the final at Wembley courtesy of a late Oli McBurnie goal.

As Middlesbrough prepares for their tenth consecutive year in the second tier since relegation from the Premier League in 2017, Hellberg will be keen to ensure his side strengthens across the board.

Though one key unexpected departure has thrown a spanner in the works at the Riverside, as the Swede now must find a viable replacement ASAP.

Middlesbrough must consider swoop for Coventry City's Luke Woolfenden following Dael Fry's shock departure

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Middlesbrough's long-term captain Dael Fry has officially left the club after 296 first-team appearances, in what will no doubt have left a huge gap in the back line at the Riverside.

Fry, 28, has chosen to instead join division rivals Birmingham City following his departure, heading to St Andrews @ Knighthead Park instead, signing a three-year deal in the Second City.

Boro were unable to strike an agreement with their captain, who Hellberg must now find a replacement for this summer urgently to partner Adilson Malanda in the heart of defence.

Coventry City's Luke Woolfenden could be an excellent fit on Teesside, with the former Ipswich Town centre-back likely available for transfer following the Sky Blues' promotion last season.

Woolfenden, 27, aside from loan spells with Bromley and Swindon Town, had spent his entire professional career contracted to Ipswich, making 215 appearances for the Tractor Boys before joining Coventry last summer for around £4 million.

However, with each of Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, and Joel Latibeaudiere ahead of him in the pecking order, the Englishman was limited to just over 1,000 minutes across 17 league appearances last season at the CBS Arena.

Now, with Eintracht Frankfurt defender Aurele Amenda set to make a £17 million switch to the Sky Blues to reinforce Frank Lampard's back line, it pushes Woolfenden closer to the exit door.

Having been promoted to the Premier League twice across spells with Ipswich and Coventry, Woolfenden would provide a winning mentality that Hellberg would absolutely value at the Riverside, and would replace the leadership factor they have lost following Fry's departure.

Under contract until the summer of 2028, though unlikely to have drastically increased in value, Woolfenden could be available for in and around the £4 million mark this summer, should Coventry look to recoup the fee they paid for him just 12 months ago.

In any case, the Englishman likely wouldn't break the bank for Boro, and with his experience, winning mentality, and availability all ticking the boxes Hellberg, he could be a fine replacement for Fry on Teesside.

Middlesbrough will have almost certainly been in the market for a new centre-back this summer regardless of Fry's departure, but following the exit of their captain, the need for recruits in that area will have only heightened.

Injuries to George Edmundson, Alfie Jones, and Darragh Lenihan last season meant both Matt Targett and Luke Ayling had to fill gaps at centre-back last season, and with Targett and Lenihan having also left the club, Boro are drastically short on options.

Woolfenden would be a more than ideal signing at the Riverside, capable of playing out from the back and proving to be a solid operator at Championship level, as he and Boro could be a match made in heaven.

Kim Hellberg has a tough task of replacing Dael Fry at Middlesbrough this summer and must consider a swoop for Luke Woolfenden

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Things at Middlesbrough are yet to really click into gear this summer, but things are beginning to heat up.

Jeremy Sarmiento's loan from Brighton and Hove Albion has become a permanent deal, whilst Myles Peart-Harris has joined from Oxford United on a free transfer, concluding their incomings for now.

Hull's Kyle Joseph is expected to be the next addition through the door, whilst Aston Villa's Lewis Dobbin has been touted with a switch to the Riverside as well.

Hellberg will be targeting another play-off finish, at minimum, with Boro next season, though the Swede must first ensure that Fry is properly replaced, and would be remiss not to consider a swoop for Woolfenden this summer.