Middlesbrough's January transfer planning and Carrick's hint on potential squad manoeuvring

Middlesbrough are starting to plan for the January transfer window, with Michael Carrick offering hints that there could still be room to manoeuvre in their squad in order to create gaps for strengthening.

Boro have a strong squad after a good summer transfer window complemented the recent building that has been going on since Kieran Scott's arrival as head of football. Heading into January, they have a full 25-man squad registered with the EFL, meaning they would have to deregister a player in order to sign anyone new over the age of 21 or on loan.

Certain factors heading into the winter window, such as the potential for their loan players to be recalled, interest in their players from elsewhere, or long-term injuries, will be out of their control. But Carrick hinted that lesser-used players might head out on loan, too, creating spaces in the squad.

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Asked about Boro's early January planning, Carrick said: “We’re not getting carried away or believing we’ve cracked it yet, by any means. We’ve played and are really happy with that. We’re not in a bad place, so we head to January not desperate or chasing anything, that’s for sure.

"There is always striving to get better and assessing what we can maybe do to improve. But January is January. Sometimes things happen by our choice and sometimes it’s out of our control. We’ve got to be ready, like any window, to come out of January better than we go into it.

"But certainly, as we stand right now, we’ve got a really good squad with good balance and really good options, so we’re really happy. We have to be ready for whatever January brings."

On the squad size, he continued: “It all comes together in different ways. We’ve got a full squad right now, which is a factor. But there are considerations for who’s played what football. Maybe some of the younger players will be considered for loans. There are constant decisions like that to be had. But certainly, at the moment, we’re happy and comfortable with what we’ve got.

"At this stage, I’m not worried; I enjoy having the boys here to work with. We are in a very good place and have some very good players, whether that is younger or more experienced ones. Of course, myself and Kieran [Scott] in the background always have an eye on things coming up and what we can improve on, but player-wise I’m just enjoying working with what we’ve got."

Boro are likely to have a relaxed stance to January's window - happy to monitor what options might crop up, without desperately chasing something, with no real major gaps in their squad as things stand that urgently need addressing. January is a notoriously difficult window for the buyer, with better value for money found in the summer months.

In terms of players who would fit the criteria for being loaned out, thus creating a gap in Boro's squad, Alex Gilbert is the only one who stands out, with other young stars such as Law McCabe, George McCormick and Harley Hunt all under-21 and therefore not needing to be registered. Gilbert was considered for loan in the summer but ultimately stayed only to pick up an injury to disrupt his positive start to the season. He's been back in training but yet to make the bench with Carrick blessed with attacking options.

Boro could also sell some players to create gaps in their squad. Fringe players such as Dan Barlaser and Anfernee Dijksteel stand out given their respective contract situations and lack of regular game time. However, both would likely need replacing in their respective positions if they were to depart, so it's unlikely to be a solution for strengthening a specific area in the squad alternative to their own.

Of course, as last January with Morgan Rogers proved, Boro must always prepare for big offers for star players. Though their stance is believed to be unchanged from the summer as far as selling key men is concerned, every player must have his price. There could be renewed interest in Emmanuel Latte Lath, while reports this week from London have suggested Crystal Palace are interested in Rav van den Berg.

On the possibility of receiving bids for important players, Carrick said: "It’s a good sign and we’ve had it before and we’ll have it again. That’s how it is and it’s up to us to manage that and come out stronger and build something as a team and club to keep getting better.

"That’s the nature of the business. Naturally, in the game, people look and like them and think that they might do a job for them, that’s just how it works. So I don’t worry about it. All the boys are an absolute joy to work with and enjoy being here and trying to achieve something and that’s purely all that’s on our mind at the moment."

All things considered with just a little over a month remaining before the window opens, Boro look in a really good place. If the window were to close with no incoming and outgoing transfers, it wouldn't be seen as a major drama.