Middlesbrough interested in Rotherham striker Michael Smith
By Scott Wilson
Tuesday 11th May 2021
MIDDLESBROUGH have added Rotherham United striker Michael Smith to their list of summer attacking targets – and are hoping to kickstart their transfer business by tying up deals for former Cardiff City duo Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Attention will then switch to incomings, with the Middlesbrough manager intending to recruit three new strikers before the end of the transfer window.
Famara Diedhiou remains a long-term target, with the 28-year-old set to become a free agent this summer after turning down the offer of a new deal at Bristol City, but Warnock’s recruitment team have also been running the rule over Smith, whose future has become increasingly uncertain following Rotherham’s relegation to League One.
The Wallsend-born 29-year-old, who started his professional career with Darlington in 2010, joined the Millers from Bury in January 2018, and is about to enter the final year of his contract at the New York Stadium.
He has scored 36 goals in 132 starts for Rotherham, but following their demotion to the third tier, his employers are expected to cash in on him this summer rather than run the risk of losing him for nothing in another year’s time.
As a tall, muscular target-man, Smith fits the bill for at least one of the roles Warnock is looking to fill this summer, with the Boro boss keen to make some early transfer headway before heading to the South-West for a break.
As well as looking to recruit centre-forwards this summer, he will also be targeting wide-attacking players with Yannick Bolasie and Neeskens Kebano both having reached the end of their respective loan deals.
Warnock is keen to open talks with Junior Hoilett following the winger’s departure from Cardiff City, although a number of other Championship clubs have also made contact with the Canadian’s representatives over the last few days.
Hoilett announced his exit from the Bluebirds at the weekend, with his contract at the Cardiff City Stadium formally due to expire at the end of this month.
The 30-year-old spent five years with Cardiff, and played under Warnock when the Boro manager was in charge in South Wales.
As a free agent, Hoilett makes understandable appeal, and Warnock is keen to hold talks with the winger and his representatives before the end of the week.
Hoilett might not be the only former Cardiff player offered a deal at the Riverside this summer, with Warnock pondering whether to offer Mendez-Laing a contract for next season.
Mendez-Laing’s short-term deal on Teesside has expired, but while the forward struggled for fitness after joining as a free agent in February, Warnock is convinced he will be a much different proposition if he has a full pre-season under his belt.
Given the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and the difficulty involved in scouting players based overseas, Warnock will be prioritising the domestic market this summer.
He is also keen to focus on the 25-30 age bracket as he feels there is an age imbalance within the current squad. Boro boast plenty of talented youngsters, and a smattering of senior pros, but ideally, Warnock would like to recruit a batch of players in the middle years of their career.
“I would like to bring in one or two older players in,” said the Boro boss. “That middle bracket of 25-30, we haven’t got many of those really.
“We’ve got a really young squad, really. That’s great for the club and the future of the club without a shadow of a doubt. But we’ll also need some depth and players who can come in replace your Daels (Fry) and Tavs (Marcus Tavernier) when they get injured without needing to change much about us.”
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