Middlesbrough are one of a host of EFL sides that are interested in signing former Chelsea right-back Todd Kane, according to a report from HITC, as head coach Michael Carrick is keen to bolster his backline before the end of the winter window.
Kane, 30, most recently played with Gibraltar side Manchester 86, in a bid to rebuild his fitness, but is now looking for a move back to England after leaving on New Year’s Day. The experienced defender, who has played 312 games in his career, mainly in the Championship, has garnered interest from a host of EFL sides including Middlesbrough.
HITC have also revealed that Millwall, Peterborough United and Lincoln City are interested in bringing him back to England. Furthermore, there is a possibility that he could move north to Scotland, with sides interested in his signature there too.
The former England youth international joined Chelsea at the age of eight, before going on to sign his first professional contract with the Blues in 2011.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, he won the FA Youth Cup in 2012, beating Blackburn Rovers in the final, ending the season as part of the first team squad that flew to Germany, as the club won their first-ever UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich.
He had a list of loan spells including Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest, before eventually leaving the club at the end 2018/19 season, joining QPR on a free transfer, after failing to make a single first-team appearance for Chelsea.
Kane continued his career in the EFL before joining Gibraltarian club Manchester 86 in October, where he has gone on to make six appearances, scoring once.
His market value has fallen to merely £250,000, as per Football Transfers, but Boro could potentially sign the defender on a free.
Writer’s View
After such promise early in his career, it probably hasn’t worked out the way Todd Kane hoped it would have, which is so often the case for young prospects who continue to be shipped out on loan at bigger clubs.
Only time will tell if he will be able to return to the constant action of EFL football, particularly the Championship, having made merely six appearances since October, but could be a good experienced option for a club in the lower tiers of the EFL.
