Middlesbrough had an impressive January transfer window as Michael Carrick conducted his first pieces of transfer business in charge of the club.

Boro managed to bring in Dan Barlaser on a permanent deal from Rotherham United, while they also added Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey, both on loan from Aston Villa.

These fresh faces, along with Middlesbrough’s upturn in form since Carrick’s arrival, have the ingredients for a strong second half of the season.

Middlesbrough claimed their fourth win in five games in the league on Saturday, as they beat Blackpool 3-0 at the Riverside Stadium. That win now means they sit in third place, 10 points behind Sheffield United and five clear of seventh-place Millwall.

However, despite the upturn in form and the January transfer window just closing, here at FLW we have looked at two free agents that are available to Middlesbrough and could be good signings...

Danny Rose

Danny Rose has been without a club since being released by Championship club Watford in early September.

Rose is a player who is full of experience at Premier League level and on the international stage, and at the age of 32, he can still be a useful asset to teams in the Championship.

Left back is a position in the Middlesbrough squad that you could argue doesn’t have a lot of depth in. Marc Bola is the club’s only recognised left back, but Carrick has been playing Ryan Giles there since he was appointed Boro boss.

Therefore, bringing in a left back from the free agent market, could be a potential option for Carrick, as he looks to keep his side in the mix for the play offs.

Rose is obviously a player that is coming to the latter end of his career, but once up to full fitness, he could be a real addition to this team. Furthermore, he is a player that is well known to Carrick, as the pair played together during their England days.

With the addition of Rose, Carrick may be able to play Giles in a much more advanced role.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Danny Drinkwater

Like Rose, Danny Drinkwater is a player that is coming to the latter end of his career, but will still believe he has lots to offer.

The 32-year-old has been without a club since July last year, when he was released by Chelsea after his contract expired.

The midfielder has struggled to replicate the performances he showed on a weekly basis during Leicester City’s title winning campaign. His move to Chelsea just never really worked and Drinkwater will be hoping for a fresh start with a new team.

In the 2021/22 season, Drinkwater showed that he can still be an important player at Championship level. He managed to play 33 times for Reading and became a crucial player in their midfield.

While midfield is probably not an area of concern for Carrick at this moment in time, Drinkwater is a potential option that the Boro boss could turn to.

Carrick will be familiar with Drinkwater, having played against him in his playing days and being a member of Manchester United's youth system.

Drinkwater is a seasoned professional who could help Carrick bolster his midfield and bring some experience as they look to cement their place in the top six.