Middlesbrough deal for Ipswich Town star could cast doubt on futures of Boro duo | OneFootball

Boro's potential permanent move for Edmundson could have implications on the futures of two other Middlesbrough centre-backs.

Middlesbrough are reportedly pushing to turn George Edmundson's Ipswich Town loan into a permanent move before the end of the January transfer window.

Boro are understood to have had an opening offer of £350,000 up-front, with an additional £350,000 if they win promotion plus add-ons rejected by Ipswich.

Despite the 27-year-old being out of contract in the summer at Portman Road, Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick and his assistant Jonathan Woodgate are said to be very happy with how he's performed so far this season, and are keen to secure his permanent signature before he has the chance to hit the free agent market.

Should the Teessiders secure a deal for Edmundson this month, that could cast some doubt onto the long-term futures of two current Middlesbrough centre-backs.

Matt Clarke and Darragh Lenihan could get lost in Middlesbrough's depth at centre-back if Edmundson signs permanently

Despite injuries taking their toll, Middlesbrough's centre-back department is one of the club's most well-stocked areas of Carrick's squad.

Edmundson, Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry, Matt Clarke and Darragh Lenihan make up the recognised senior options, whilst youngsters George McCormick - who can play at full-back or in central defence - and Harley Hunt have made first-team appearances this season.

However, for Clarke and Lenihan in particular, a permanent Edmundson transfer may not bode well for their long-term futures at the Riverside Stadium.

After spending 14 months on the sideline with a back injury, 28-year-old Clarke returned to the Boro squad at the halfway point of last season, and arguably ended the 2023/24 campaign as the club's best performer.

However, the former Brighton man has been in and out of Carrick's starting lineup so far this term, and heading into Boro's meeting with Portsmouth on 18 January, the towering defender hasn't started a Championship game for Middlesbrough since the 3-1 defeat to Leeds United on 10 December.

As for Lenihan, he's yet to make a single appearance for the club so far this season, as the 30-year-old hasn't played in a competitive fixture for Boro since a 2-1 home win over Southampton in the Championship on 23 September 2023.

The Republic of Ireland international missed the majority of last season after undergoing ankle surgery, before a brief appearance in pre-season ahead of the current campaign was quickly followed by him suffering from tendinitis in his Achilles, which has kept him out of action so far this term.

Therefore, both players are faced with the potential of being fourth and fifth-choice in the pecking order to fill Carrick's two starting centre-back positions when everyone is fit.

For two players as proven and experienced as they are at Championship level, occupying those sorts of roles within the Middlesbrough squad may not be something of great appeal to either of them.

This potentially overcrowded centre-back room comes at a time when both players are approaching big contract decisions too, and as such, this could have a major bearing on what they and the club decide are the next best steps to take in their respective futures.

Clarke is set to become a free agent at the end of the season if nothing changes. However, Middlesbrough do have the option to extend his stay on Teesside by a further 12 months should they wish.

As for Lenihan, he is only contracted at the Riverside until the end of the 2025/26 season, meaning he will be entering the final 12 months of his deal come the end of the current campaign.

If neither of them can receive assurances that they are a big part of Carrick's and Middlesbrough's future plans, then neither of them would appear to be at the stage of their careers where not playing regular football is an attractive option.

Therefore, Boro's hierarchy may need to weigh up more than simply how much to offer Ipswich for Edmundson's permanent services this month. They will surely have to factor in what that deal may mean for two proven, quality second tier centre-backs in their ranks.