Director says Middlesbrough signed £11m star’s perfect replacement, he cost only £3m

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That Middlesbrough sit atop the Championship despite losing numerous key players is testament not only to the impact of head coach Rob Edwards, but also the Riverside recruitment department.

At least, that is how sporting director Kieran Scott sees it.

Middlesbrough deepened Sheffield United’s gloom just one day after losing star schemer Finn Azaz to Southampton a week-and-a-half ago. Anfernee Dijksteel and Jonny Howson said their goodbyes earlier in the window too, having combined for 39 league starts last season.

And while David Strelec and Kaly Sene arrived just before the deadline – Middlesbrough always planned to sign two strikers, and belatedly got them – their flying start under Edwards came when their pursuit of an Emmanuel Latte Lath replacement was still ongoing.

At the other end of the pitch, Boro have conceded only one league goal in three Championship matches without Rav van den Berg at the heart of their backline.

Van den Berg took ‘the next big step’ in his young career when joining Bundesliga returnees Koln for a fee which could rise to over £11 million. But, as Scott now proudly tells BBC Radio Tees, that Middlesbrough do not appear to be missing Van den Berg is testament to some excellent transfer business, and the superb form of Alfie Jones.

Kieran Scott thinks Alfie Jones has replaced Rav Van den Berg at Middlesbrough perfectly

Middlesbrough signed Alfie Jones for around a third of the fee brought in via Van den Berg’s departure.

And after former Hull City ace Jones opened up on his £3 million switch to one of the division’s most ‘attractive’ destinations, the 27-year-old’s steely displays under Edwards have made him an early candidate for any hypothetical ‘Signing of the Season’ discussions.

Not only did Jones open his Boro account in the statement 3-0 away win at Millwall, the Bristol-born colossus has also accumulated a trio of clean sheets across his first four appearances.

“I’ll be careful what I say because Rav is just a young lad, and he is a really good player. But he just looked a bit disengaged with [life at Middlesbrough], to be honest,” Scott reveals.

“There was an opportunity that came up for him and it just felt like it was the right thing for all parties. There is no knocking him as a player. He’s got the world at his feet when he wants to. But he just lost his way and I think the change was the right thing for everybody.

“To be fair, I think Alfie Jones has filled that void with no problem whatsoever.”

Scott excited by Adilson Malanda’s arrival at the Riverside from Major League Soccer

Alfie Jones has excelled on the left of a back three so far this season, alongside Dael Fry and a revitalised Luke Ayling. The highly-experienced Darragh Lenihan also made his return after two injury-hit seasons against the beleaguered Blades, while George Edmondson is also on the comeback trail himself.

Add Jones and Adilson Malanda to the mix, and Scott is more than happy with Boro’s defensive options.

“We’ve got five brilliant centre-backs as it is, and then Adilson will come over and help complement it,” Scott adds. “So we’ll be all right.

“But, as I say, that’s no disrespect to Rav. He’s a really good player and we wish him all the best.”

EFL Analysis can confirm that Middlesbrough fought off Norwich City, as well as Benfica and Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven, to sign Malanda in a £6.2 million deal from MLS outfit Charlotte FC.

Malanda, a 23-year-old right-sided centre-half, will cross the Atlantic in January.