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Middlesbrough are venturing into the unknown this summer, with changes needed both on the pitch and in the dugout to help put them back into contention for the play-offs in 2025/26.
Boro flirted with the top six over the course of the season, but a poor end to the campaign saw their rivals jump ahead of them in the fight for the final Championship play-off spots, and they are now preparing for another year in the second tier.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 7 |  BlackburnBlackburn | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 53 | 48 | 5 | 66 |
| 8 |  MillwallMillwall | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 47 | 49 | -2 | 66 |
| 9 |  West BromWest Brom | 46 | 15 | 19 | 12 | 57 | 47 | 10 | 64 |
| 10 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 64 | 56 | 8 | 64 |
| 11 |  SwanseaSwansea | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 51 | 56 | -5 | 61 |
| 12 |  Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 60 | 69 | -9 | 58 |
| 13 |  NorwichNorwich | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 71 | 68 | 3 | 57 |
The future of Michael Carrick is a huge point of debate, but for now, the former Manchester United midfielder continues to lead the Teessiders into the transfer window.
It will be a busy summer for Middlesbrough, and after they released their retained list earlier in May, there is one Championship veteran that could also be on his way out of the door at the Riverside Stadium sooner rather than later.
Middlesbrough fans react as Boro look to offload Luke Ayling
Following a strong showing on loan with the club in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, Luke Ayling joined Boro on a two-year deal last summer.
However, the move has not exactly gone to plan, and he has struggled to keep up with the pace of the Championship at times, and now Middlesbrough may look to move the right-back on this summer, as EFL Analysis exclusively revealed.
Supporters have taken to social media in light of the news, and there seems to be a consensus about Ayling’s future.
One fan wrote: “He was terrific on loan. Yet a two-year deal seemed odd for someone his age. One year with maybe an option of another would have made much more sense. I imagine we are paying him a few quid (based on his Leeds wage). So moving him on won’t be easy. Who will pay as much as us?”
Another put: “It’s almost like signing him and giving him a two year deal was a poor decision, who’d have thought it?”
While a fifth Middlesbrough fan said: “Will probably have to be released and paid off. Not a chance any other club will match his wage so essentially stuck with him unless released.”
And another supporter wrote: “Another terrible decision to give him a contract last season.”
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Wrexham would be the perfect destination for Luke Ayling
While Ayling’s Middlesbrough career looks to be done, that does not mean that his time in the Championship is over.
Wrexham have already identified experienced Premier League and second tier players to move to the Racecourse Ground this summer, with Tom Cairney and Danny Ings just two names linked with a move to Wales.
Ayling would be the perfect target for the Red Dragons, and with their financial strength, they may just be able to cover the defender’s wages that Middlesbrough are currently paying.