We are still waiting for Garry Monk’s Middlesbrough to make a major impact in the Sky Bet Championship, with the pre-season favourites yet to showcase their promotion credentials.  

Boro were well fancied ahead of the Championship season, with Monk overseeing a busy summer, which saw a number of high-profile arrivals, including £15m man, Britt Assombalonga.

However, Boro have failed to make the impact many expected in the Championship, with the Teessiders heading into October in 11^th having picked up just 16 points from a possible 33.

With almost a quarter of the season played, Monk’s side are going to have to find form quickly in the coming weeks, if they are to put themselves into contention with the Championship’s frontrunners for automatic promotion.

Here at FLW, we believe Monk will once again look to be active during the January transfer window, and with that in mind, here is a look at a player who might leave in 2018 and one we believe Monk should be looking to sign…

OUT – Stewart Downing  

It was a surprise to see Downing not leave the Riverside Stadium during the summer, and Boro could once again look to move him on during the January transfer window.

Monk has other options available to him in Marvin Johnson and Adama Traore, and Downing, who is coming to the end of his career, is likely to want regular football.

£2.25m-rated Downing still has a lot to offer in the Championship, and a host of clubs could be looking to take him off Boro’s hands.

IN – Joe Bryan 

Bryan is perhaps the Championship’s most impressive left-back at this current time, with his performance for Bristol City exceptional so far this season.

This is not a transfer Boro would be able to do on the cheap, but as they showed during the summer, they are not afraid to spend big to compete.

Bryan would bring incredible balance to Middlesbrough’s defence, and perhaps bring the quality required for Monk’s side to rise through the table.