Rob Edwards may face an early-season squad blow for Middlesbrough as Brentford target one of their key players.
Boro had a slightly underwhelming season, finishing four points behind Bristol City and the playoffs, ending up in tenth place. A second straight season without a shot at promotion saw the Teesside club act, sacking Michael Carrick after two and a half years in charge, and have now appointed former Luton Town gaffer Edwards.
Brentford Move For Defender
According to Alan Nixon via his Patreon page, Brentford are targeting defender Rav van den Berg, and are believed to be ready to offer £15 million to sign the Dutch international. The Bees are in their own form of a rebuild, with manager Thomas Frank being appointed by Tottenham as well as a likely move for star player Bryan Mbuemo away from West London this summer.
van den Berg joined Middlesbrough in July 2023 from Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle, and has 66 appearances to his name at the Riverside Stadium. He suffered a tricky second season in England, only making 27 appearances in the Championship despite no serious injuries. He has also been a member of the Netherlands’ Under-21 Euros squad, making three starts as his side fell to eventual winners England.
A family connection may be a deciding factor in this move, with his older brother Sepp van den Berg currently at Brentford. He was signed from Liverpool last summer and made 35 appearances in his debut season at the Premier League club. Rav has two years remaining on his contract at Boro and was previously a target for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace in the past six months.
Writers’ View
With a second tricky season under his belt and yet another disappointing finish for Middlesbrough by missing out on the playoffs, their best players could be persuaded to move. Hayden Hackney has been targeted by Tottenham Hotspur in the past month, and now Brentford have set their sights on Rav van den Berg. With players like his older brother and Nathan Collins on the books there, he may not get much senior game time but a step up into the Premier League is always an alluring pull.
