Middlesbrough are reportedly struggling to sign players this transfer window due to financial constraints and are willing to listen to offers for four players to bring down their wage bill according to The Northern Echo.
Grant Leadbitter, Rudy Gestede, Ashley Fletcher and Britt Assombalonga will all be allowed to leave the club this transfer window according to the report, as long as the club’s valuation of each player is met.
Gestede was signed during Middlesbrough’s stint in the Premier League in January 2016 and is believed to be one of the highest earners at the club. The main objective for Tony Pulis’ side is to reduce the wage bill, and with Gestede not a regular starter, it could make sense for the Benin international to depart.
Equally, Assombalonga is another high earner having signed for £15 million in the summer of 2016 under then-manager Garry Monk. In doing so, the former-Nottingham Forest forward became Boro’s club record signing. But he has recent fell behind West Ham loanee Jordan Hugill in the pecking order.
Ipswich and Sunderland had expressed interest in Middlesbrough captain Grant Leadbitter earlier this transfer window but nothing came to fruition. Hull and Sheffield United were keen on Fletcher, but again he has stayed put for the time being.
The Teessiders are the lowest scorers in the whole of the top half of the Championship, and with Gestede, Fletcher and Assombalonga struggling for consistency in front of goal, the funds generated from the sales of these players may be best spent on a striker replacement to cement their position in the play off places.
