'Busy' - Steve Gibson delivers Boro transfer update as work continues on targets

Hoping for another promotion push next term, after going so close last time, Gibson assured supporters that he knows the squad is not where it needs to be, with the Championship kick-off a little over four weeks away.

As Kim Hellberg prepares the players he does have at his disposal while awaiting new arrivals, Boro ’s recruitment staff are working hard to try and advance a number of deals that they’re working on. Given the calibre of player, it sometimes requires a little patience, and a lot of negotiation.

Asked about the upcoming campaign, Gibson told BBC Tees: “We’re not quite ready for the new season, but when it comes we will be. We’re very busy.

“We’ve got great staff at the club and Kieran [Scott] and Neil [Bausor] are working their socks off, along with Kim, to bring in new players. We’re busy with that.”

One player who is a target for Boro is USA left-back Max Arfsten. However, new reports that Boro are close to finalising a move, with the player now travelling to Teesside, are believed to be wide of the mark at this stage.

Arfsten was part of the USA squad at the World Cup and, as recently as yesterday, posted pictures of himself holidaying in California.

Boro remain hopeful they can sign their long-term left-back target. But there isn’t understood to be anything agreed with Columbus Crew yet, and Arftsen does have plenty of interest in his services this summer.

As the wait for Arftsen developments go on though, Boro continue to try and push through other deals, to strengthen Hellberg’s squad for another promotion push, having gone so close last term.

It was a unique season in which, having narrowly missed out on automatic promotion as Ipswich Town’s financial might and squad depth won through in the end, Boro then went into the play-offs where, after the Spygate scandal, they eventually lost to Hull City in the final at Wembley.

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Asked if he’d ever experienced anything like last season, Gibson said: “No I haven’t. We’ve had some crazy seasons at Middlesbrough, and we’ve had some great seasons at Middlesbrough.

“But last year was a bit different. But it’s football. Everything changes and you learn something new every day!”

Gibson was speaking to BBC Tees after receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by Teesside University. Having started his business in Middlesbrough before taking it worldwide, he accepted the honour with great pride.

“I was born a short walk from here, about ten minutes away,” he said. “And my mother was born close by. My father was actually born where Teesside University is. So being recognised locally is a great honour.”

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

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