Middlesbrough must brace themselves as new Crystal Palace, Boro transfer link emerges | OneFootball

The Eagles have identified Boro defender Rav van den Berg as a potential summer transfer target.

Middlesbrough must brace themselves for a big-name exit as Premier League side Crystal Palace eye up a summer transfer swoop for Rav van den Berg.

Boro's recruitment has been highly impressive in recent times, with high quality players and highly sellable assets regularly arriving through the Riverside Stadium doors over the last few transfer windows.

Striker Emmanuel Latte Lath is the latest of those recruits to earn himself a big-money move, with his MLS and Middlesbrough club-record £22.5m deal to Atlanta United this winter providing the Teessiders with major profits.

It's a deal that puts Boro in a strong position when it comes to not needing to cash in on other star players in the summer, but that doesn't mean that no headline exits will take place at the end of the season.

Crystal Palace identify Middlesbrough defender Rav van den Berg as potential summer transfer target

According to a recent report from journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon, Crystal Palace have earmarked Burnley's Maxime Esteve and Middlesbrough’s Rav van den Berg as potential options to replace in-demand England international Marc Guehi.

Nixon states that the Eagles are aware of their need to cash in on the 24-year-old in the summer to help fund new additions to Oliver Glasner's squad, and as such, they are looking for a "classy" centre-back to fill his boots.

Nixon's report reveals that Palace were quoted £35m for AC Milan's Strahinja Pavlovic, a fee that they were not prepared to pay. Therefore, they have now cast their eye towards the Championship - something they've enjoyed huge success with over the years - to perhaps look for a cheaper alternative.

It's understood that Van den Berg has caught Palace's attention in recent times, and will be watching him closely throughout the remaining weeks of the season before making a final decision.

Middlesbrough must start planning for Rav van den Berg replacement should Crystal Palace come calling

Contending with interest from top clubs isn't a new phenomenon for Middlesbrough when it comes to Van den Berg. In fact, they had to do just that to even secure his signature in the first place in July 2023.

Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Juventus and Ajax were all courting the Dutch youth international that summer, but it was the allure of regular football under Boro boss Michael Carrick that sold him on a move to Teesside.

Since arriving in the North East, the 20-year-old has been establishing himself as one of the finest young defenders in the Championship, but if Middlesbrough loiter in the second tier much longer, their chances of retaining their flying Dutchman will surely become less and less likely.

Indeed, interest from Selhurst Park is nothing new either, as Football Insider warned the Teessiders back in November that Crystal Palace were preparing a move for their young starlet, with the Eagles said to have been monitoring his progress ever since he pulled on the red and white shirt for the first time.

As well as Palace, Tottenham have also been heavily linked with a move for Van den Berg since he became a Middlesbrough player, as well as another of Boro's highly-rated young players, Hayden Hackney.

The Teessiders are in the midst of a big play-off push as the business end of the season approaches, but inconsistent results largely comprised of self-inflicted wounds have left their hopes of a top-six finish firmly in the balance.

Should Middlesbrough miss out on the play-offs for a second season running, not only will Carrick come under major scrutiny in regard to keeping hold of his managerial role at the Riverside, but after committing two years to the club's Premier League promotion project, Van den Berg - as well as other star players - may well decide to seek that top flight move themselves.

Therefore, head of football Kieran Scott and the rest of the club's recruitment and scouting team must now start planning for life without Van den Berg in Boro's defence, as they will want to ensure they get his replacement right should they need to head into the market to find one this summer.