Michael Carrick admits there are many 'ifs and buts' for Middlesbrough heading into the January transfer window, but says there is a relaxed feeling at the club nevertheless.

Boro head into the January transfer window in a pretty strong position. Improvements over the course of the season leaves form looking good as they head to Plymouth Argyle this weekend sitting sixth in the Championship table.

That’s largely thanks to a strong squad with plenty of depth, which, as far as potential incomings are concerned next month, is currently at its maximum as far as the EFL’s 25-man registration rules are concerned. It means, for Boro to sign a player, they will have to de-register someone first - either because they leave the club, or just by removing them from the list despite remaining at the club.

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There are, however, increasing noises around players at the club with regard to potential exits. This week Emmanuel Latte Lath’s agent said that he ‘expects something to happen’ in January, with Premier League interest in the striker. Reports, meanwhile, have suggested Isaiah Jones’s lack of game-time leaves him wanting to leave the club.

Asked about the club’s stance heading into January and his own plans and ambitions as far as potentially strengthening the squad is concerned, Carrick said: “Possibly [we might need to trade]. There's a lot of ifs and buts. As much as we're clear in our own mind with how we want it to look, we're pretty stable and calm.

"There's normally a little something here and there that changes and we're ready to adapt to that but we'll stick to the plan as much as possible. The main thing is we're pretty calm and we're in a good place as a group and squad. If things come along we'll deal with and we can come out better then it's something we'll obviously look to do.”

Boro ultimately head into the window in a strong position, with a squad that looks well-equipped in all areas to mount a serious challenge for promotion this season. It follows another summer transfer window in which Steve Gibson backed Carrick and the Boro recruitment team by spending plenty despite no big sales.

Next month, while Boro will be prepared to react, just in case something unexpectedly cropped up that left them needing to replace a departing player, they will also head into the window open-minded as to who might potentially become available to sign. If a particular option is of interest to pursue, they would then have to plot a way in which they create a gap in the squad to accommodate the new addition.

Crucially though, they’re not desperate right now to do anything and are in a position where they only need to make a move if an option proves too good to turn down - rather like the late move in the summer to unexpectedly add Ben Doak.