Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate has claimed that he is under no pressure to bring new players to the club, despite there being little more than three weeks until the close of the transfer window.

'Boro have so far made just one signing in the summer window, with goalkeeper Tomas Mejias rejoining the club on a free transfer from Cypriot side Omonia.

With the likes of Stewart Downing and John Obi Mikel leaving the club at the end of last season, and loans for players such as Jordan Hugill and Mo Besic expiring, 'Boro are arguably short on numbers within the squad, although as what Woodgate believes there is no cause for concern.

Speaking about transfers after his side's 4-0 friendly win over National League Hartlepool, Woodgate was quoted by the Teesside Gazette as saying: "Everyone’s clamouring saying, ‘Oh, there’s three weeks to go’. There’s plenty of time (so) relax.

“There’s no pressure to do something. We’ll get the players in when we need them. We’re not going to rush."

Having taken over from Tony Pulis as 'Boro manager at the end of last season, this is Woodgate's first job as a first-team manager, and explaining his approach to the transfer window, the 39-year-old revealed: “If the player’s not right, I’m not one of those managers who would get them in anyway for the sake of it.

"I’m not going to be like that. I’m not going to waste the chairman’s money.”

Even so, Woodgate does expect to see activity on the transfer front at the Riverside Stadium between now and the close of the window on the 9th August, as he admitted: “I’m sure there’ll be ins and outs in the next three weeks, that’s I can really say.

“Hopefully we’ll get a few in, and a few might go."

The Verdict

I can see what Woodgate is saying here to an extent.

At the minute there is no need for any sort of panic buying, as there is still plenty of time in the window to get things done, and it makes more sense to bring in the right players at a later date than to get the wrong ones as soon as possible.

That being said, a club's fans often expect to see signings at this time of the year, and you imagine there will be some tension about the lack of activity so far, which will only increase the longer time goes on before those new signings do start to arrive.

It will be interesting to see just how soon 'Boro do start to make their move, and the type of player they bring could well prove to be an indicator as to the type of approach Woodgate will take in his debut season in management next year.