When Aitor Karanka sent Tomas Mejias on loan to Rayo Vallecano in January, he said it would be a good opportunity for the goalkeeper. Third or fourth choice at Middlesbrough, behind Victor Valdes, Brad Guzan and Dimi Konstantopoulos, it was a chance for Mejias to get some games.
However, the 28 year old Middlesbrough owned player hasn’t got on the pitch since. And that’s because of 25 year old Paulo Gazzaniga, who just so happens to be on loan from Southampton.
However, Rayo Vallecano are appealing it, which doesn’t say a lot for their opinion of their Middlesbrough loanee. The club would prefer the Southampton man to be back, and it’s he who looks the likelier for a possible permanent deal.
Middlesbrough sending Mejias on a loan, thinking he’d get football, when in reality that wasn’t going to happen, shows a real lack of planning. Southampton had got in there first last summer, and therefore they’ll take transfer preference in the summer.
Both clubs have goalkeepers they likely want to offload, but Southampton are the ones who managed to secure a beneficial loan.
