Gareth Southgate has already endorsed Middlesbrough’s ‘outstanding’ transfer swoop

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Middlesbrough’s start to the summer transfer window has been slow, but business at the Riverside will soon ignite into life.

While other Championship clubs are making some excellent signings, most notably Birmingham City, Middlesbrough are yet to bring anyone through the door.

The Teessiders are on the lookout for new recruits, as EFL Analysis revealed last month that Middlesbrough are interested in Chelsea’s Alfie Gilchrist.

Boro also placed Pavel Sulc on their radar, although the Victoria Plzen midfielder has his eyes set on a top-flight move after impressing in the Europa League.

However, during a summer that will have largely frustrated Rob Edwards so far, Middlesbrough are on the verge of pulling off a sensational coup.

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Gareth Southgate’s ‘outstanding’ praise for Danny Ings

The striker department is an area Edwards is looking to strengthen this summer. Boro’s only current potential forward options are Marcus Forss, Delano Burgzorg and Tommy Conway after Josh Coburn was sold to Millwall.

Of that trio, Conway is their only out-and-out striker, leaving the North East side needing to bolster in that department.

Luckily, it emerged on Monday that Boro are in advanced talks to sign prolific forward Danny Ings, formerly of Burnley, Liverpool, Southampton, Aston Villa and most recently, West Ham.

Ings was once one of the best English strikers in the country, as during his time at Southampton, he struck 22 Premier League goals during the 2019/20 campaign.

It was around this time that an England call-up was on the cards for the striker, and former Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate endorsed the 32-year-old in 2020.

“He’s a great character,” Southgate said via the Daily Echo. “He had a really difficult spell at Liverpool with injuries – that move could have been so different for him.

“But he is very popular with everybody he plays with because of his personality and the way he works for the team.

“He had an outstanding season with Southampton, his goalscoring record was top drawer and he thoroughly deserves his place on merit.”

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Ings will guarantee Boro goals

Although Ings preferred a move to the Premier League, the forward only made 15 appearances in the competition for West Ham last term, scoring once.

The diminutive forward has seen his form decline rapidly in recent years, perhaps needing a season in the second tier to get back on track and prove he’s still one of the best finishers around.

In 87 Championship appearances, Ings has scored 27 goals, including a 21-goal haul during his time at Burnley in the 2013/14 campaign.

Ings boasts piercing movement in behind defences and is a clinical finisher in the box, with Boro potentially landing one of the bargains of the summer on a free transfer.