Middlesbrough Opinion: Why Boro should go all out for Michael Frey?
According to report from Turkish outlet FotoMac, Middlesbrough are set to battle Leeds United for the signature of Fenerbahce striker Michael Frey.
Middlesbrough have appointed Jonathan Woodgate as their new manager, with the 39-year-old replacing Tony Pulis at the Riverside Stadium. Woodgate knows the task he has in his hand after Boro missed out on promotion last season.
The 39-year-old manager will need to change Middlesbrough’s style of play which was dull and unattractive under Pulis, thus causing disharmony between the fans and the club last season.
With Pulis gone, however, the fans would want a complete change in the team’s playing style as well as the structure of recruitment, which certainly has been hit and miss in the last few years.
Following Woodgate’s appointment, his interest in Michael Frey apparently tells he’s interested in adding a goalscorer to his ranks. Boro struggled to score goals last season, which was the primary reason for their failure to achieve promotion to the Premier League.
Britt Assombalonga was Boro’s top scorer with 14 goals but he couldn’t find much support from any of Ashley Fletcher, Rudy Gestede or Jordan Hugill.
According to the Gazette Live, Middlesbrough will look to sell Martin Braithwaite and Rudy Gestede in the summer transfer window.
Neither Braithwaite nor Gestede have made the impact that would have been expected of them at The Riverside Stadium and it is understandable why Boro are looking to sign a new striker instead.
Michael Frey could be a good fit at Middlesbrough. He scored five goals for Fenerbahce last season but he is quite young and talented and prior moving to Turkey, the striker had enjoyed a 16-goal campaign in his native with FC Zurich.
Although the Swiss striker stands at 6ft 2in tall, he is more than just an aerial threat. He works really hard off the ball, can play defence-splitting through balls and does his fair share of defensive duties.
Frey’s poor season at Fenerbahce was primarily down to the niggling injuries, including ligament damages and muscle rupture, hernia and groin problems. He was restricted of regular game time amidst competition from Roberto Soldado and Islam Slimani. When fully fit and running, the ex-Zurich man is a real handful in the box for defenders.
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Not only will Frey bolster Middlesbrough’s attack but also add competition within the squad.
He is 24 and could develop into a quality player under Woodgate’s tutelage. The centre-forward has no prior experience of English football but the Championship must take a punt on him.
Verdict
Getting in a striker should be a top priority for Middlesbrough this summer and Woodgate must do his best to sign Frey from Fenerbahce.
