Middlesbrough’s ‘crazy’ low offer is ‘such a slap in the face’ for international starlet

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Middlesbrough began their Championship campaign with a victory over Swansea at home to give Rob Edwards a perfect start to life in the dugout at Teesside.

However, this buoyant feeling was short-lived, as the club suffered a reality check in their Carabao Cup fixture with Doncaster Rovers, suffering a 4-0 defeat at home.

Now they are looking to course correct that defeat with a trip to the Den to face Millwall.

Middlesbrough have begun building the squad in Edwards’ image, which will be imperative to their exploits this season after one EFL expert voiced his “serious issues” with Edwards’ Boro squad.

The club added Callum Brittain to their ranks before Middlesbrough signed Sontje Hansen, with more expected to follow quickly through the door at the Riverside.

However, there is one deal they will need to do serious work on, as it appears to have insulted those who have an interest in the deal, including former Manchester United keeper Tim Howard.

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Tim Howard believes Middlesbrough’s bid is a slap in the face to Columbus Crew

EFL Analysis exclusively revealed that the head of Max Arfsten had been turned after a £2.25 million bid was rejected for the defender by Columbus Crew.

Our Chief Football correspondent Graeme Bailey said: “The initial bid got rejected, but Boro haven’t given up on him. It’s believed the player has had his head turned by Boro.

“The first bid was a reasonable bid, especially for an MLS player; it wasn’t a tiny amount of money.”

However, former American international Tim Howard believes Columbus Crew were insulted by the first bid, as he believes if the player had been in a European league, he’d be worth almost 10 times the money.

Speaking on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast with Landon Donovan, he said: “I mean, Middlesbrough man, like, pay us like you owe us; this is crazy. You know, he’s a young, up-and-coming U.S. national team player, right? More than likely going to be on the World Cup roster if he continues this way.

“The rest of the world, wake up, man. This is such a slap in the face.

“People who constantly complain about us banging in the drum about like, ‘Woe is me with the American player.’ This is an example of it. If this was a young French kid, a young French left back, who just cracked into a national team, who just played [in a tournament]…maybe $20 million. You can’t get a bag of balls for $3 million dollars.”

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Rob Edwards on future transfer dealings

Max Arfsten is not the only player that Middlesbrough are looking to complete the signing of, with the 10-cap American international one of several new faces the club are looking to acquire before the end of the window.

Rob Edwards addressed the future incomings at the club ahead of the game with Millwall.

He said: “We’re still working on stuff. We want to strengthen the whole group. We expect a few more recruits, not just one or two. I can’t put an actual number on it, but there are still a few areas we want to strengthen.

“We’re still working really hard on bringing more in. I appreciate everyone wants them here and now, and that’s always the way. I do as well, but it doesn’t work like that. I think pretty much every club will be feeling the same. I think we’ll be in a good spot come the end of the window, but there’ll be more arrivals in due course.”