As January transfer windows go, the first half is usually the biggest. Clubs look to get their deals done and then allow managers and squads to concentrate on football, whilst sniggering as the less well prepared look to loan bit part players from Portugal on January 30th.
That said, so far things have been relatively quiet in terms of deals actually getting done, so it would be expected that things will speed up over the next week. One Middlesbrough option which has been repeatedly pushed since the close of the summer window is Neven Subotic.
Borussia Dortmund defender Subotic almost signed for Middlesbrough in the summer, but fitness issues, leading to an operation, scuppered all that.
Bild explain that Dortmund are only keen to resolve Subotic’s future at the end of the January transfer window, probably waiting to see if they pick up any injuries. If Middlesbrough are still interested then that’s a degree of being messed about which they probably shouldn’t put up with.
There’s a chance Aitor Karanka is looking at a French midfielder. In August, French newspaper L’Equipe reported that Middlesbrough had approached Lyon’s Clement Grenier.
In an interview with RMC this week, the 25 year old has claimed he’s had two approaches from England and is looking for a new start.
