Middlesbrough look set to join a few Championship clubs in a race for Ipswich Town’s George Edmundson. Any potential deal will have to be struck before Friday.
Edmundson, who featured in Ipswich’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City, has been given the green light for a potential loan deal. Boro are among the potential suitors, as well as Portsmouth, Hull City, Blackburn Rovers, and Watford.
The 26-year-old has been at Portman Road since July 2021 and was involved in successive promotions up to the first-tier. Edmundson came through the Oldham Athletic set-up, with stints at Alfreton Town, Fylde, Rangers and Derby County. Ten appearances in the Championship last season was enough to establish an important place in the team. Although, this feeling of permanence has been nullified by the rumour of a loan-deal.
Ipswich’s long-serving defender made his Premier League debut against the club he loved growing up, in Manchester City.
Premier League debut vs boyhood club⚽️ pic.twitter.com/wQg3pVVjVn
— George Edmundson (@georgedmundson4) August 25, 2024
75 appearances with the Suffolk club has seemingly been overshadowed by the introduction of various new defensive options. This influx of depth has pushed Edmundson down the pecking order.
Kieran McKenna’s side have, so far, brought in Jacob Greaves from Hull and Dara O’Shea from Burnley – for an accumulative £30 million plus. Middlesbrough however, could use an injection of centre-back options. Michael Carrick’s Championship side conceded five goals to Stoke City in the EFL Cup on Tuesday. It was a weakened side, but nonetheless the scoreline has highlighted potential defensive fragilities.
The North Yorkshire outfit have been busy this window, with a plethora of talent entering the squad. Tommy Conway, Delano Burgzorg, Aidan Morris, Micah Hamilton, and Neto Borges have all been snapped up. Elsewhere, Luke Ayling’s loan deal from last season has been made permanent.
A starting space has opened up for a potential move for Edmundson, as the departure of Paddy McNair to San Diego FC has shown. McNair has since switched to West Bromwich Albion on loan. The 26-year-old is clearly surplus to requirements with McKenna’s Premier League side this season; a second tier destination could be on the cards.
Writer’s View
Edmundson has been very impressive for Ipswich during his stay at Portman Road. Despite having a lot more involvement during the League One campaigns, the Englishman was very influential in Ipswich’s promotion season last year.
With undoubted question marks over the former Rangers defender’s future beyond this loan spell, this could be a temporary opportunity for Edmundson to flourish in the Championship. More game time despite the lower division, might be a tempting factor for the 26-year-old.
Furthermore, Middlesbrough will be bidding for promotion once again this season, with Carrick eager to take them to the next level. But if minutes can be guaranteed elsewhere with clubs like Portsmouth swooping in, the North Yorkshire side could miss out on a gem.
Be the first to comment