Having taken over the reins at Middlesbrough last month, Jonathan Woodgate will undoubtedly be eager to put his own stamp on his new side ahead of the club's opening day fixture at Luton Town on August 2nd.

Therefore, it is not at all surprising that the 39-year-old is being linked with a Premier League ace.

According to Football Insider, Boro are reportedly plotting a bid to sign Pape Souare from Crystal Palace who is currently out of favour at Selhurst Park.

If this is indeed true, it is paramount that Woodgate considers both the positives and the negatives that the full-back could have on the club's fortunes next season before committing to a switch.

Keeping this in mind, we have set out two pros as well as two cons to Boro completing a deal for Souare based on his career to date.

Pros

He would provide some much-needed competition for George Friend

A mainstay in Boro's team last season, George Friend produced an outstanding level of consistency which helped his side achieve the joint-best defensive record in the Championship alongside Sheffield United.

Yet despite the impressive nature of his performances, it could be argued that the arrival of Souare could help the 31-year-old reach new heights as the added competition will mean that he cannot afford to rest on his laurels.

By having two quality operators vying for this particular position, there is no reason why Woodgate cannot launch a sustained push for promotion during the upcoming campaign.

He may end up thriving under the guidance of Woodgate

Although the Smoggies job is Woodgate's first in management, he could very well turn out to be the perfect man to help Souare realise his full potential if his playing career is anything to go by.

A domineering centre-back, he would have unquestionably picked up some invaluable tips from Sir Bobby Robson and Terry Venables during his time at Newcastle United and Leeds United which he could now use to his advantage at the Riverside Stadium.

Cons

He struggled considerably with injuries in recent years

Despite being signed by Palace four years ago, Souare has only made 48 appearances in the Premier League as injuries have led to him spending a great deal of time on the sidelines.

Having featured just four times in all competitions last season due to the combination of team selection as well as fitness issues, it would be a huge risk for Boro to take by signing him as there is no guarantee that he will be able to cope with a 46-game campaign.

It could be more beneficial for Boro to spend their funds elsewhere

When you consider that the Smoggies already have a solid full-back in the form of Friend, it could be argued that they would be wasting a significant amount of their budget by bringing in Souare as he may struggle to displace the aforementioned defender.

Therefore, with the club's midfield needing addressing following a lack of creativity in the final-third last season, Woodgate should be splashing the cash to provide some much-needed service for Britt Assombalonga instead of focusing on the Palace full-back.