Alfie Doughty signs: How Middlesbrough FC's perfect summer transfer window would look | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at what a dream summer transfer window on Teesside might look like.

Middlesbrough are heading for another major summer transfer rebuild after a highly disappointing 24/25 Championship season.

Boro's 10th-placed finish in the second tier marked a clear failure of a campaign, as promotion, and a play-off finish at the very least, the obvious remit for Michael Carrick's side this year.

As such, a major review of the season is being undertaken by the club's hierarchy, with the future of Carrick as Middlesbrough boss expected to be decided upon the conclusion of that enquiry.

Regardless of who will be leading the club into the 25/26 season, a hugely important summer transfer window awaits the Teessiders, as they look to enjoy a strong summer of recruitment in order to field a team that can finally end their Premier League exile next year.

Therefore, Football League World takes a look at what a dream summer transfer window might look like for Middlesbrough, starting with outgoings.

Seny Dieng lost his role as Middlesbrough's starting goalkeeper halfway through this past season.

His inconsistent, mistake-prone performances led Carrick to drop the Senegal international in favour of academy graduate Sol Brynn, before a dislocated shoulder forced Boro into the market to sign Bournemouth loanee Mark Travers.

As such, the 30-year-old looks to be surplus to requirements at the Riverside Stadium, and looks certain to leave the club this summer.

OUT: Tom Glover

GK

Tom Glover's move to Middlesbrough hasn't worked out.

The 27-year-old Australian signed from Melbourne City on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, but has largely been resigned to an emergency backup/cup goalkeeper role ever since.

When he has had the chance to show what he can do, the former Tottenham academy prospect has been hugely inconsistent, and hasn't provided enough evidence to suggest he is capable of being a number one goalkeeper in the Championship.

OUT: Dan Barlaser

CM

A player who does divide opinion around the Riverside, Dan Barlaser looks sure to be on the chopping block this summer.

The 28-year-old central midfielder has struggled to cement a starting role in Boro's midfield, and the former Rotherham United man made just 12 starts for Carrick's side in the Championship this past season.

With Middlesbrough sure to be looking for central midfield help this summer, Barlaser doesn't appear to be part of the club's future.

IN: Alfie Doughty

LB/LWB, Luton Town

Left-back has been a problem position for Middlesbrough ever since George Friend left the club in the summer of 2020.

Luton Town star Alfie Doughty, however, could finally fix that. The 25-year-old is a top-class attacking full-back/wing-back at Championship level, and it was only 12 months ago that he was coming off the back of a 2023/24 season that saw him register two goals and eight assists in the Premier League.

With the Hatters suffering relegation to League One, Doughty looks sure to be one who will A), hold little interest in playing third tier football, and B), present a prime opportunity for Luton to raise some precious transfer funds.

IN: Lewis Travis

CM, Blackburn Rovers

As previously mentioned, Boro's central midfield area was severely lacking in bite and steeliness in 24/25 - Lewis Travis would inject both of those traits back into Middlesbrough's side.

The 27-year-old was a rock in the middle of the park for Rovers last term, and was undoubtedly one of their standout performers in the Championship.

With Hayden Hackney looking likely to depart the Riverside Stadium this summer, and given the fact they missed out on adding a central midfielder in January, Boro will surely be looking to bolster their options in the heart of midfield this summer.

Travis may not be the most glamorous name, but he matches the profile of that Adam Clayton-esque central midfielder: tough, tidy, industrious, and brings real leadership too.

IN: Ethan Galbraith

RB/RWB/CM, Leyton Orient

Right-back was always going to be a target position for the Teessiders this summer, but that need was made even more glaring following the departure of Anfernee Dijksteel following the expiration of his contract.

Ethan Galbraith has been one of the standout performers in League One this season, with the versatile Leyton Orient star showing why he came through the ranks of Manchester United.

Six goals and six assists from 39 regular season games highlighted just how much ability the 24-year-old Northern Ireland international possesses.

Galbraith can play in central and even attacking midfield roles, but he could find a home on Teesside as Middlesbrough's attacking right-back of the future.

His contract is also set to expire at Brisbane Road this summer, meaning Boro could secure his signature at no cost.

IN: Dominik Fitz

CM/AM/LW/ST, Austria Wien

Middlesbrough have sampled the European market a number of times in recent transfer windows, and should they cast their net across the continent once again this summer, then Dominik Fitz could be quite the catch.

The 25-year-old is a highly versatile player, who can operate as a traditional central midfielder, as a number 10, on either wing, or as a centre-forward.

Fitz is only contracted with Austrian side Austria Wien until 2026, meaning he and the club could well open to a move this summer.

Having been with the club since he was a boy, the do-it-all attacker has truly proven himself as one of the best players in the Austrian Bundesliga, and at 25, he may now wish to test himself abroad with the potential of Premier League football with Middlesbrough should the Teessiders be successful in their promotion quest.

IN: David Strelec

ST, Slovan Bratislava

David Strelec's name needs no introduction to Middlesbrough fans, given how strongly he was linked with a move to Boro in January.

The 24-year-old centre-forward could well be available again this summer, after bagging 25 goals and eight assists for Slovan Bratislava this season.

With Emmanuel Latte Lath gone, and plenty of funds in the bank as a result of that £22.5m sale, Boro will have the financial firepower to present a lucrative offer to Slovan for their prolific hitman, if he is indeed still a target for the Teessiders.

IN: Harry Darling

CB, Swansea City

Boro have really put an emphasis on the importance of conducting shrewd transfer business in recent windows, and Swansea City defender Harry Darling could offer them another opportunity to do exactly that.

The 25-year-old centre-back is out of contract with the Swans this summer, but lengthy talks over an extension are yet to result in a new deal being signed.

As such, he looks set to hit the free agent market this summer, and moving into the prime years of his career having already established himself as a quality central defender at Championship level, Middlesbrough could land themselves a huge bargain with his signature.

Thomas Kaminski

GK, Luton Town

As is seemingly the case every summer, Middlesbrough appear to be in need of a new number one goalkeeper ahead of the 25/26 season.

Travers has returned to Bournemouth, and reports are suggesting that Boro are unlikely to be able to secure a permanent agreement with Bournemouth for him.

Therefore, with the jury still somewhat out on Brynn's starting credentials given he was only able to play a handful of games this past term before suffering his season-ending injury, signing a proven pair of hands to push him would be a wise move.

Luton Town shot-stopper Thomas Kaminski is certainly one of those. The 32-year-old Belgium international has shown himself to be a steady and safe presence in-between the sticks at second tier level, having spent three campaigns as Blackburn's number one prior to his switch to Kenilworth Road in the summer of 2023.

Kaminski played in all 38 of the Hatters' Premier League games during the 23/24 season, and made 45 second tier outings this year.

His signing would really take the pressure off Brynn, and hand him an experienced and solid goalkeeper to compete with and learn from, and given Luton's relegation, he may not take much convincing to escape a season playing League One football.