Middlesbrough FC expected to push for fresh Ipswich Town agreement | OneFootball

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has broken his silence on Ipswich Town's decision to recall George Edmundson

Michael Carrick has suggested Middlesbrough will try and re-sign central defender George Edmundson after Ipswich Town decided to recall him from his loan stay at the Riverside Stadium earlier this week.

Boro have heavily used the loan market in recent years and struck a temporary agreement for Edmundson last summer, with the defender making a real impression during his 21 appearances on Teesside.

They were also at risk of losing Liverpool loanee Ben Doak, who had been the subject of bids from both Ipswich and Crystal Palace amid talks of a recall by Arne Slot.

However, no further bids arrived and Carrick has confirmed the Scotland international winger will now be seeing out the season's entirety at Middlesbrough after the deadline passed for Liverpool to bring him back to Anfield.

But that was not quite the case with Edmundson, who, despite being out-of-favour at Portman Road over the previous two seasons and evidently deemed surplus to requirements, was recalled by the Tractor Boys on Tuesday afternoon while Boro had been trying to negotiate a deal to acquire his services permanently.

Michael Carrick on Ipswich Town, George Edmundson recall amid potential Middlesbrough return

The two clubs could not agree on a fee before Ipswich took the decision to activate their loan recall clause ahead of a deadline this week, which came as a surprising turn of events.

The 27-year-old is set to be out of contract in the summer and will be unable to join another club this month after already playing for both Ipswich and Middlesbrough in the current campaign, while opportunities would be sure to continue coming at a premium for Edmundson in the Premier League.

When quizzed on Edmundson's exit and whether Boro may be able to return him to the club following the Reds' 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday evening, Carrick explained: "We knew it was a possibility. We didn't know when it might come.

"The ball was in their court in terms of that situation. What happens next, we'll have to wait and see. It's not long happened so we'll explore what happens next.

"It's something we'll look at for sure. George has done well but it needs to be right for all parties so we'll see how that goes. We were aware of it and we knew it was a possibility. It’s the case with a lot of loans that there is a cut off point before the deadline.

"We knew it was a possibility before tonight and we planned for the game with that in mind, so it didn’t affect preparation for the game too much. We knew it was a possibility so he wasn’t going to start tonight’s game anyway, just in case.

"It is what it is. Sometimes you’re fully in control, sometimes you’re not and you’ve got to adapt."

Carrick also discussed just how much Edmundson had enjoyed his stay at the Riverside, which could leave the door open for a return before the winter window is up.

He added: "He enjoyed it. I think it's wrong of me to speak for George, but he's loved it here, he's played a lot of football and he's been an important part of what we've done. It's been an important experience for him.

"I have spoken to him since it happened. Again, I can’t speak for him in terms of how he feels about the decision, but he had a real positive experience here and we’ll just have to see what happens next."

Ipswich Town's George Edmundson recall is a blow for Middlesbrough, Michael Carrick

Middlesbrough were able to contend with Edmundson's sudden exit by keeping a clean sheet in the win over Tony Mowbray's side in his absence.

However, there's little denying Edmundson was a key part of Carrick's plans for the season, having been the 43-year-old's first-choice at centre-back.

Edmundson was impressive at Middlesbrough while managing to become something of a fan favourite too, and they handed him much-needed playing time which simply was not, and likely will not, be available back at Ipswich.