Grimsby Town are set to beat a host of League Two clubs in the race to sign young Middlesbrough midfielder Kamil Conteh, according to journalist Dan Marsh.
The 20-year-old Sierra Leone international, who spent last season on loan at Gateshead in the National League, is set to sign a permanent deal with the Mariners for an undisclosed fee after impressing in the fifth division in the previous campaign.
🚨Excl: Grimsby Town have won the race for Kamil Conteh, who is leaving Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee.
Paul Hurst's side have beaten several other League Two clubs to a deal for the highly-rated midfielder. #GTFC #MFC
— Dan Marsh (@DanielMarsh92) July 3, 2023
Who is Kamil Conteh?
Predominantly a midfielder, Conteh signed his first professional contract at Watford in July 2021 and went on to make his first-team debut in January 2022, playing 16 minutes in a 4-1 defeat to Leicester City in the third round of the FA Cup.
In a bid to gain experience, the 20-year-old was loaned out to Braintree Town in the National League South for the second half of the 2021/22 season. During his brief spell at the club, Conteh racked up ten appearances and scored once as Braintree finished 17th in the table.
With his contract coming to an end at Vicarage Road, the Sierra Leone midfielder went on to sign for Middlesbrough following a successful trial period.
Failing to make an appearance for Boro, Conteh went out on loan again in October 2022, this time, to National League side Gateshead. During his time in the National League, the young midfielder appeared 34 times for Mike Williamson’s side, scoring three times as he helped the club finish 14th in the table, as well as helping the club embark on a trip to Wembley for the FA Trophy final.
Conteh is also a Sierra Leone international, appearing eight times for his country following his debut in a 3-0 defeat to Togo in March 2022, playing the full 90 minutes.
Mariners shaping up
The Mariners have been busy so far this summer as they look to build on their 11th-place finish last time out in their Football League return, in a season which also saw Paul Hurst’s side reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1939.
The potential signing of Conteh will possibly add to the seven new additions that Grimsby Town have so far made during this transfer window, joining the likes of experienced League Two striker Danny Rose after signing from Stevenage, as well as former club favourite Charles Vernam, who arrives from Lincoln City.
Other key arrivals at Blundell Park include defenders Toby Mullarkey and Harvey Rodgers, who have both signed from Rochdale and Accrington Stanley respectively, as well as other forward options such as Donovan Wilson, Abo Eisa and Rekeil Pyke.
Writer’s View
Writing this article as a Mariners supporter myself, if this deal for Conteh was to come off, it would be a transfer in which I’m seriously excited about, even more so on a permanent deal.
If he is anything like how he performed during his time at Gateshead last season, I think Grimsby are getting some player on their hands and at 20 years of age also, there is plenty of room for him to develop and become a better player. In terms of helping out with his development, I truly believe Paul Hurst is the perfect man to do that due to his previous track record of getting the best out of players.
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