Ipswich Town must be concerned as Middlesbrough plot move for promotion hero | OneFootball

Middlesbrough transfer target Jeremy Sarmiento previously earned promotion to the Premier League with Ipswich Town.

Ipswich Town should be worried by Middlesbrough's latest transfer activity as the Tractor Boys battle Boro for an automatic promotion spot.

As Kim Hellberg aims to guide his club to a place in next season's Premier League, Middlesbrough are plotting a loan swoop for Brighton's Jeremy Sarmiento.

The Ecuador international scored four goals while on loan in the Championship with Burnley last term, helping Scott Parker's side earn promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

However, the winger has endured a less fruitful loan spell with Italian Serie A outfit Cremonese this campaign, making just seven appearances.

Therefore, Brighton are now keen to offload their man elsewhere, while Middlesbrough are interested in his services, as per the Northern Echo.

Ipswich Town know all about the threat Jeremy Sarmiento can provide for Middlesbrough

Sarmiento has achieved the impressive feat of consecutive promotions from the Championship to the Premier League, thanks to his recent stints with both Ipswich and Burnley.

After arriving on loan at Portman Road from Brighton in January 2024, following his spell with fellow second-tier club West Brom, the 23-year-old provided the Tractor Boys with the dynamism they needed to seal back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.

Sarmiento was not particularly prolific for Kieran McKenna's men, scoring three times in 20 Championship appearances, but he proved himself as a real live wire with a direct, dribbling style which caused consistent problems for opposition defenders.

Because the Ecuador international proved to be a difference-maker for Ipswich in their last promotion bid, the Suffolk club should now be worried that Middlesbrough will beat them to a top-two spot if they land the winger's loan signature.

Hellberg's Boro leapfrogged the Tractor Boys into an automatic promotion place with their 4-0 victory over Southampton on Sunday, whereas McKenna's side saw their fixture against Portsmouth postponed.

With Sarmiento on their books, the North East outfit may be able to pull themselves further clear of McKenna's men and towards the Premier League for the first time since relegation in 2017.

Jeremy Sarmiento signing can help Kim Hellberg put his own stamp on Middlesbrough

Hellberg moved to the Riverside Stadium at a turbulent time in November, after former boss Rob Edwards sent shock waves by leaving the Championship promotion contenders in favour of joining Premier League strugglers Wolves.

The 37-year-old has successfully kept Boro in serious promotion contention, but perhaps warning sirens were sounded when his side endured a four-game winless run before their emphatic victory over Southampton.

Having inherited the squad assembled by Edwards last summer, Hellberg is now tasked with making his own stamp on Middlesbrough in the January transfer window.

Acquiring Sarmiento, who has become a seasoned promotion winner in recent seasons, would be a great coup for the Swede as he looks to guide Middlesbrough to the Premier League.

Contrastingly, Ipswich boss McKenna will not be a fan of the fact that his former player can now prevent his side from sealing an immediate top-flight return.