Four players considered for best Middlesbrough signing of the Kieran Scott era - Boro panel

After another successful summer transfer window, Kieran Scott and the Middlesbrough recruitment team are likely preparing for a different kind of January.

With eight new signings and no big departures, Boro filled their 25-man squad to the maximum and, after an inconsistent start to the season, are now starting to show signs of a side that can realise their exciting potential.

Another exciting window meant more talented players arriving at the club. Aidan Morris has been the star of the latest batch of recruits, while loan men Ben Doak and George Edmundson have excelled in their own ways, as Tommy Conway shows real promise too.

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The summer transfer was Scott's sixth window since assuming his role on Teesside after joining from Norwich City. However, it was another 12 months before he enticed head of recruitment Chris Jones to the club, and a few weeks later when the club appointed Michael Carrick as head coach to offer Scott a coach who fit the model better.

It's no surprise then that recent windows have seen far more successes as far as Boro transfers are concerned. And with that in mind, for this week's fan panel, we asked: Who has been the best signing of the Kieran Scott era?

Our panel this week consists of Youtuber and talkSport journalist Phil Spencer, Boro Breakdown co-host Dana Malt, Boropolis co-founder Chris Cassidy and Twe12th Man member Stephen Jackson.

Phil Spencer

There's a strong argument to say that Emmanuel Latte Lath is the best signing of the Kieran Scott era, while early signs suggest that Aidan Morris could well take that title in the future. However, it's hard to look beyond the signing of Rav van den Berg.

Signed as a relatively unknown young defender who was little more than a talented prospect, Rav is now a mainstay in Michael Carrick's side and deservedly so. It actually blows my mind to think that he's only 20 - the maturity, composure and leadership that he has at such a young age is incredible and it's those characteristics that lead me to predict that he's destined for the very top.

Not only is Van den Berg a good player for Middlesbrough right now, but the low transfer fee paid looks certain to become a masterstroke given his extraordinarily high ceiling in terms of potential. Middlesbrough fans will be desperate to keep hold of Rav for many years to come, but the reality is that his potential will likely see him outgrow the club.

That's fine by me and ultimately it is part and parcel of Kieran Scott's recruitment model - all it means is that Middlesbrough will be set to make a huge profit on a player who will be playing in the Champions League before long.

Who knows, if any deal taking him away can include the sort of clauses that we inserted into Morgan Rogers' move to Aston Villa then Steve Gibson and Boro could be laughing. But like every Boro fan, I sincerely hope that we can keep hold of him for a while yet as he has the potential to be the best defender in the Championship and so much more.

Dana Malt

There’s been a growing list of good signings under Kieran Scott so picking one is quite hard, but I’ll go for Rav van den Berg. To sign someone who was admired by so many big clubs in Europe; AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Roma etc, is smart from Rav but also powerful from Boro.

Being a young player, I thought he’d have to work his way into the team and we’d see fleeting minutes from him initially, but as soon as he slotted in he’s really not looked back. Of course he’s injured right now, because why wouldn’t Boro’s injury woes sneak up on him?

He’s been so good for Boro; mature beyond his years and notably composed when called upon to defend. His last-ditch, last-man tackle against QPR at Loftus Road last season, is a moment that just about sums him up.

This is a player that will no doubt fetch Boro a pretty profit and will go on to play at the highest level. A special shoutout to Ryan Giles and Cameron Archer though. Those two were perfect signings for what Boro needed at the time they joined, but Rav gets my pick.

Chris Cassidy

There’s been an obvious change in the direction of Middlesbrough’s recruitment policy since Kieran Scott’s arrival as Head of Football in September 2021. As a result of that, lots of exciting players have arrived at the football club over the past few years.

Firstly, a special mention to some of the loans. Ultimately, it wouldn’t feel right to label any player that was never actually owned by the football club as Scott’s best signing. However, given a select few were such vital cogs in Middlesbrough’s best spell under Michael Carrick, they at the very least deserve a mention.

It seemed like just about every club in the second tier was trying to sign Cameron Archer in January 2023, and it was Boro that acquired his services. Scoring eleven goals and providing six assists in just twenty Championship appearances, Archer’s short spell on Teesside was a roaring success.

Then there was Ryan Giles. The only loanee that ever felt like a slightly realistic target when Boro failed to reach the Premier League in the play-offs that same season. Despite two rather uninspiring stints at other clubs since his time under Carrick, it tells its own story; there’s still a large proportion of the fan base that would have him back in a heartbeat.

Another of Scott’s best, Morgan Rogers, never even got the chance to show Boro fans what he was truly capable of, but he now finds himself in the England squad. Fresh off the back of a handful of underwhelming loan spells, Rogers joined the club for a nominal fee, and not even a year later he’s dazzling in the Premier League and Champions League. Financially speaking, there’s a strong case he could be number one.

Nevertheless, there’s one obvious jewel in the crown for Scott: Rav van den Berg. At the time of signing, the Dutch defender was a fairly unknown, inexperienced eighteen-year-old. He finished last season as a mainstay in Michael Carrick’s defence and picked up Young Player and Player of the Season.

The now twenty-year-old has already been called up for the Dutch Under-21s and is being tracked by most of Europe’s elite clubs. There’s very little doubt that when the time comes, he will most likely end up being the club’s record sale, and for that reason, he has to be considered the best signing of the Kieran Scott era.

Stephen Jackson

What a difference 12 months makes, if you're asking this question last year you're having all the same issues picking one for the wrong reasons as people were seeing players only just starting to adapt to the club and push towards the first team.

Looking at the question now, it's still a difficult decision to make but for completely different reasons, as we have a few candidates to choose from. If you want to go for the signing that has benefitted the club then the easy answer is Morgan Rogers as we turned over a very good profit on him within 6 months of him signing for the club.

But if I am answering this as a fan of the team, and in a footballing sense, then I have to choose Aidan Morris. The way he has adapted to a brand new league, brand new way of playing football, you wouldn't think he was a brand new signing.

He looks like he's been with the club for years. The man we signed to bolster our midfield has become the first name on the teamsheet when fit and our very own Mr Reliable!

As well as hearing their views on particular Boro topics on Teesside Live each week, you can also hear from them further on their respective platforms. Phil Spencer runs his own Youtube channel which you can subscribe to here. Dana Malt is part of the Boro Breakdown Podcast, Chris Cassidy is part of the Boropolis Podcast, and John Cutler is a mainstay on the Twe12th Man Podcast, all of which you can listen to on all major podcast outlets.