Defender will join Middlesbrough on loan in ‘coming hours’ – Will use experience to ‘toughen up’

Once close to signing for Aston Villa, Harold Moukoudi eventually joined Saint-Etienne from Le Havre on a free last summer.

However, his first season in the French elite hasn’t quite gone to plan, blocked from regular first-team action by Loïc Perrin, Wesley Fofana and William Saliba.

This led the 22-year-old to ask for a January exit, albeit temporary, which was granted, and L’Equipe are reporting on Thursday afternoon that Middlesbrough F.C. will be the lucky recipients.

The move is expected to happen ‘in the coming hours’ but there doesn’t appear to be a purchase clause in the deal, as the French newspaper explain the young defender will use the next six months to ‘get tougher’ in the Championship at Riverside Stadium before returning to Saint-Etienne, where he has three years left on his deal.

With just three natural centre-backs in their ranks and Jonathan Woodgate’s decision to often play three at the back, it makes perfect sense for Middlesbrough to dip their toes in the market for a new body in the role.

We’ll have to wait and see if Moukoudi does the business, but the fact Aston Villa wanted him when Steve Bruce was in charge suggests the talent is there and there was a feeling he was right for English football.