'Tough' - Boro transfer warning delivered after losing two big players

Kim Hellberg’s side impressed many last season en route to play-off final. But in a gruelling campaign, they ultimately just didn’t have enough to get over the line and win promotion.

The target is set for the year ahead to correct that, with owner Steve Gibson acknowledging the squad is not yet ready, a little over four weeks out from the big kick-off. But he assured Boro chiefs were busy working on deals to ensure Hellberg has the tools in the year ahead.

Boro have so far boosted their attacking depth with the additions of Myles Peart-Harris and Kyle Joseph, but still have plans to strengthen a number of positions further.

And their list of priorities were added to as they lost star man Hayden Hackney to Everton, as well as Dael Fry to Birmingham City, following the conclusion of his contract at the Riverside.

FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Keep up with all the Middlesbrough FC latest via the Gazette's dedicated Facebook page

Asked about Boro and the summer transfer window they’ll need, Barry told Lyllo Casino: “Losing Hayden Hackney is a huge blow, he was their standout player and will be hard to replace. While they have a decent squad, losing a leader like him affects you.

“They've also lost Dael Fry to Birmingham, so they have two big holes to fill. It will be tough to improve on last year without spending a few quid.”

Middlesbrough are preparing for a big summer as they look to rebuild from the heartarche of missing out on promotion to the Premier League.

Make sure you don't miss out on the latest Boro news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

Your information will be hidden, you'll only ever receive messages from the Teesside Live sports team, and you can leave any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.