Middlesbrough FC tipped to follow Sunderland transfer example - Coventry City wouldn't like it | OneFootball

FLW's Middlesbrough fan pundit has predicted a number of player exits this summer regardless of their league status

Middlesbrough are firmly in the mix for automatic promotion to the Premier League under Kim Hellberg.

The Swede took charge in November after Rob Edwards’ sudden departure for Wolves, and he has carried on the team’s impressive form from the opening months of the campaign.

The Teesside outfit have not been in the top flight since their 2017 relegation, and their last top six finish came in 2023 under Michael Carrick.

But the club are now hopeful of securing a place inside the top two, although they have lost ground to league leaders Coventry City in recent weeks.

Boro have gone into the March international break second in the table following a 0-0 draw away to Blackburn Rovers.

However, third and fourth place Ipswich Town and Millwall are just two points behind, and the Tractor Boys also have a game in hand.

Middlesbrough set for summer exodus

When asked which players could leave the club this summer, FLW’s Middlesbrough fan pundit Liam Day claimed that it will all depend on which division the team are competing in next season.

He believes promotion could see a lot of players move on due to a lack of top flight game time, but he also expects big names like Hayden Hackney, Aidan Morris and Adilson Malanda to leave if Hellberg’s side remain in the Championship.

Local rivals Sunderland conducted a mass squad overhaul upon promotion, which recently invited the ire of Coventry City owner Doug King, though Boro have been tipped to follow suit in the event of a return to the promised land.

“I think this is a really tough question because it does depend on what division we’re in,” Day told Football League World.

“If we’re in the Premier League, I can see most of the squad leaving — maybe not leaving, but I don’t see them playing, so they probably will want to play their football somewhere else.

“But, hypothetically if we’re still in the Championship still, Hayden Hackney is going to be leaving, I’d be pretty shocked if he was still here.

“I could even see Adilson Malanda leaving, I could see Aidan Morris leaving, I could see a lot of our important core leaving, and I think that’s really quite worrying.

“So I think it does highlight how important Premier League promotion is this season especially because I think you look at the division next year and it’s going to be near impossible.”

On the other hand, Day is hopeful that Hackney, Morris and Malanda will remain at the Riverside if promotion is secured, but he believes a number of players could depart as he urges the club to follow Sunderland’s transfer strategy for life in the top flight.

“If we’re in the Premier League, I can see most of the players leaving, except for Hackney, Morris, Malanda,” he continued.

“I think Brynn becomes back-up keeper, I think Callum Brittain he’ll stay and can play in the Premier League, but other than that a lot will probably leave because I don’t think they’ve got the quality to step up.

“And you have to follow Sunderland’s lead and see what they do, but it really does depend on what division we’re in.

“But I can see a major overhaul either way.”

Middlesbrough are winless in their last three league games, but they have held onto an automatic promotion place regardless.

Hellberg’s side lost to Charlton Athletic before draws with Bristol City and Blackburn in their last matches before the final international break of the campaign got underway.

The Teesside outfit will be hoping that they can use the break to reset and refocus before the busy end to the season over the next few weeks.

Ipswich and Millwall both drew with each other on Saturday, offering Middlesbrough a bit of relief from the chasing pack behind them.

Middlesbrough will return to action on 3 April with a huge clash at home against the Lions in an 8pm kick-off.

A busy summer awaits for Middlesbrough

Whatever the outcome of Middlesbrough’s promotion push, it is likely to be a busy summer in the transfer window for the club.

Their top performers are likely to attract interest if they are still in the Championship, and even then that might not be enough to prevent teams from trying to poach the likes of Hackney.

Sunderland invested heavily in a lot of players last summer when they won the play-offs, but Jobe Bellingham was still sold to Borussia Dortmund even with top flight football on offer.

While some players likely won’t be able to make the step up to the Premier League, Middlesbrough should still avoid an exodus of too many players if they do go up, as changing a whole squad in one go can be just as risky as not making enough changes.