Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick simply must not let shining star become a free agent: View | OneFootball

Matt Clarke has been shining for Middlesbrough since his return from injury, but as things stand, he's set to become a free agent next summer.

Matt Clarke has been shining for Middlesbrough since his return from injury last December, but with his Boro contract expiring at the end of the 2024/25 season, Michael Carrick will surely look to hand the centre-back a long-term extension ASAP.

Boro signed Clarke from Brighton & Hove Albion back in the summer of 2022, but back problems meant he would spend 14 months on the sideline after making just six appearances for his new club.

Threatening to become somewhat of a forgotten man on Teesside, the towering central defender finally made his long-awaited return in the second half of last season, and he's been a vital component in Carrick's defence ever since.

The former West Brom, Derby, Portsmouth and Ipswich defender has carried that form into the 2024/25 campaign, scoring goals and being a rock in the Middlesbrough defence.

So, despite the club having the option to trigger a 12-month extension to his contract, Middlesbrough's decision makers will surely hand Clarke a new long-term deal to ensure his future on Teesside is secured for the foreseeable future.

Clarke has arguably been Boro's best since his return to action

It's been a long wait for Middlesbrough supporters to truly see the player their club had splashed a reported £2.25m on two years ago, but Clarke's displays in a Boro shirt have made it well and truly worth it.

Operating as the left-sided centre back in Carrick's back four, the 27-year-old (who turns 28 on 22 September) has been a brick wall in defence, and a siege weapon in attack.

Through the first five weeks of the 24/25 Championship season, Clarke has found the net on two occasions, leaving him level with Tommy Conway and ahead of Emmanuel Latte Lath in Middlesbrough's scoring charts.

Being left-footed, his importance to Carrick's tactical approach is vital, with his ability to open up different passing lanes proving crucial in Boro's pursuit of dominating the possession within games.

Clarke's confidence on the ball combined with his ability to move out of defence and into attack, whilst always seeming to find himself in the right position at the right time to make an important tackle, has seen him become a real fan favourite at the Riverside.

A genuine goal threat from corners is something the club have lacked in recent times too, but with Clarke roaming the penalty area, there's real optimism that Boro can score from any set piece situation when he's on the pitch.

Clarke has shown his worth to Middlesbrough in so many ways since his return, and Boro will surely want to avoid any contract limbo with their star defender in the months to come by rewarding him with a well-earned long-term extension in the near future.

Uncertain futures of other centre-backs should prompt Boro decision

On paper, Boro aren't short of centre-back options this season. The presence of Rav van den Berg, Darragh Lenihan, Dael Fry, George Edmundson and highly-rated teenager Harley Hunt presents them as one of the strongest groups in the Championship.

Edmundson is only on loan for the season, despite making no secret of his desire to win a permanent deal with the club beyond 2025.

Meanwhile, Van den Berg is one of the hottest centre-back properties outside the Premier League, as Fulham were linked with a late move in the summer transfer window.

Middlesbrough had beaten the likes of AC Milan, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund to the Dutch youth international's signature last summer, and the club's head of football Kieran Scott has admitted that they could face a real challenge to keep hold of their flying Dutchman should the club miss out on promotion this season.

Whilst Lenihan and Fry are only contracted until the summer of 2026, meaning the end of the current season will see the pair enter the final 12 months of their respective deals.

That could mean that three of Middlesbrough's central defenders will enter next season having just one-year remaining on their contracts, a situation that Boro simply can't afford to see happen.

It's not unrealistic to suggest that Van den Berg, and perhaps one, if not both Fry and Lenihan could all leave the club next summer. If that did happen, having a the safety blanket of Clarke being handed a long-term deal would be hugely important.