Championship side Middlesbrough have taken an interest in Newcastle United full-back Jamal Lewis ahead of the summer transfer window, Football League World understands.

The Northern Irishman has only made five Premier League appearances for the Magpies this term, appearing in just one other competitive match this term in the Carabao Cup as he's only been able to make a very limited impact.

Not exactly having the chance to impress under Eddie Howe as of yet, he may be available for a transfer in the summer with the Magpies potentially set to undergo a considerable makeover in the summer under the stewardship of their new owners.

 

 

Boro are one side that could be in a position to recruit him in the summer, investing heavily last summer to transform their squad under Neil Warnock but making real strides under current boss Chris Wilder.

They have aspirations of getting back to the Premier League and are currently in the mix to do so, unlikely to return via the top two this term but certainly capable of winning a top-six spot after knocking out the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup this year.

This could be a good move for Lewis then - but why would it be a great move for the Teesside outfit too? We have listed three reasons why Boro need to win this race.

Taylor's uncertain future

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Back in January, Neil Taylor signed a new contract at the Riverside Stadium to extend his stay there until the end of the season, but it's currently unclear whether he will remain on Teesside beyond that.

In fairness to the Welshman, he has been a regular starter and that should make signing a deal a mere formality for both sides, but there's every chance he could leave in the summer and whilst that's a possibility, they should be looking at Lewis.

At 33, it could be argued that his game time also needs to be managed so the addition of a 24-year-old who still has a long career ahead of him could be the option Wilder needs along with Marc Bola.

Looking at Taylor more cynically, the second-tier side aren't going to generate a lot of money for his services and this is one reason why they may not keep him on, especially with loanees not exactly providing the club with an opportunity to cash in on them in the future.

And with the need to abide by the EFL's financial rules, is keeping Taylor worth it? That's one for Wilder and the board to weigh up.

Spence to go?

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Another uncertain future at the Riverside Stadium plays a key part in this, with Djed Spence not guaranteed to remain at the club beyond the summer with sides across Europe thought to be interested in his signature.

Isaiah Jones is already a good option at right wing-back which could either force him or Spence to play on the left if Wilder wants to accommodate both in the club's starting lineup.

Looking at this in financial terms, the ideal team to cash in on the current Nottingham Forest loanee would be now because his contract expires in 2024.

Waiting another year to sell him would reduce his valuation, so whilst interest is still high in his signature and the possibility of a bidding war for his services remains, it would be a surprise to see him stay put on Teesside.

This would leave Wilder with one less option in this position, so Lewis would come in to fill that void.

Lewis' different experiences

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Soccer Football - Championship - Middlesbrough v Luton Town - Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, Britain - March 5, 2022 Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder celebrates at the end of the match Action Images/John Clifton EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The fact Lewis has top-tier experience under his belt provides Boro with a real chance of utilising him as an effective option next season if they are promoted - and bringing in a player of his quality will only help in their quest to remain afloat in the division.

But he also has experience of winning promotion from the second tier too, making him a good option to have regardless of which division Wilder's men are in next season.

This will give the club's recruitment team reassurances that they can fully scout the Northern Ireland international without their time being wasted, enabling them to pick out his key strengths and how to utilise him best even before the window opens.

That information passed on to Wilder will only help the Sheffield United boss in his quest to make the 24-year-old a success, so it makes sense to go for someone like the Magpies' defender instead of someone they haven't analysed as much in-depth.