Middlesbrough supporters have been reasonably satisfied in recent times after seeing their side extend their unbeaten Championship run to seven games on Tuesday night.
Tony Pulis’ men went into their clash with Preston North End at Deepdale having won each of their previous two league games against Brentford and Wigan Athletic, and having not tasted defeat since their 2-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest on October 6. And the Teessiders made it seven without defeat on Tuesday in drawing 1-1 with Alex Neil’s Lilywhites, with Marcus Tavernier netting just after the break to cancel out Alan Browne’s opener for the hosts.
Thus, there have been many satisfied Boro fans up and down the country in recent times, although some will likely be looking ahead to the January transfer window, and thus who their team must seek to sign to maintain a promotion push.
And one man they must seek to lure to the Riverside Stadium is Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy, valued at £6.3 million by Transfermarkt, as his arrival would equip Pulis with the missing piece in his promotion jigsaw.
Ultimately, while Boro fans will likely be delighted to see their side sat third in the Championship table at present, their relatively lowly goal tally is sure to be of concern to some supporters, what with Pulis’ men having netted just 22 times in their opening 19 league matches this term.
That tally is fewer than any other side currently sat in the top six and ten fewer than the two teams above them in Norwich City and Leeds United – yes, Middlesbrough may have the best defensive record in the division, but were the goals to dry up in the second half of the season, things could get very tricky for the North East outfit.
Yet when one takes a look at the various striking options Pulis has at his disposal, Boro should be well catered for in the final third given Britt Assombalonga, Martin Braithwaite, Jordan Hugill, Rudt Gestede, and Ashley Fletcher are all on the books at the Riverside – thus, it appears that the supply line to these front men needs to be better.
And that’s why luring Newcastle’s Murphy across the North East is a deal they have to strike in the New Year to thus bolster those flanks.
The 23-year-old may have struggled for regular football under Rafa Benitez this season, appearing only six times in the Premier League for the Magpies, but one mustn’t forget that the former England Under-21 international shone for Norwich in the Championship just a few years ago, netting eight goals and laying on eight assists for the Canaries in the 2016/17 campaign.
Thus, the winger knows exactly what is required to deliver the goods at second tier level, and as such would be a huge asset to Pulis’ Middlesbrough ahead of their expected promotion push after Christmas.
And with Murphy struggling for game time at St James’ Park, and Boro clearly in need of reinforcements down the flanks, it’s a move which makes complete sense for all parties involved, at the same time potentially providing Pulis with the missing piece in his promotion jigsaw.
Boro fans… what do you think? Let us know!