, Middlesbrough defender leaving could be good news for Hull City

Middlesbrough defender leaving could be good news for Hull City

Premier League side Watford are interested in signing Middlesbrough defender George Friend this summer, according to The Mirror.

Following their relegation from the Premier League last season, Middlesbrough have appointed former Leeds United boss Garry Monk as their new manager.  Monk’s first task will be to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion this season but he could be facing the departure of left-back George Friend.

Newly-appointed Watford manager Marco Silva has been looking to sign a left-back this summer and is interested in Middlesbrough’s Friend.  Watford are also interested in signing Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs and Hull City’s Andy Robertson.  However, with Burnley signing Charlie Taylor, Hull may be set to keep hold of Robertson for another transfer window if Watford also pull out of the race to sign him.  As we reported yesterday, the only other club known to be in the race to sign Robertson is Liverpool.

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Friend has been at Middlesbrough since signing from Doncaster Rovers for around £100,000 in 2012.  In this time, the defender has made 194 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals.  Despite struggling with injury, Friend made 16 Premier League appearances last season and may be about to get the chance to make a few more this season.

At 29, he is two years older than Gibbs and six years older than Robertson.  However, Friend is also able to play at centre-back, with the other two players not as versatile.

If Watford do sign Friend this summer, it will be interesting to see whether Andy Robertson gets his Premier League move.  It is believed that the defender is keen on remaining a Premier League player and avoiding the drop back down to Championship football.

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