They have been on my radar for some time and I think now is the right time to push the button. Last season they finished 12th, eight points adrift of a playoff spot and I expect them to finish a lot closer this time round. Aitor Karanka replaced Tony Mowbray as coach in mid November and it was always going to take time for him to get his ideas across and a full pre season working with the squad, before we would see the benefit of his vast experience at the top Spanish clubs. He was previously assistant manager at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, no one who has held that role before, has come out a worse coach and Karanka has done his new club no harm in steadfastly defending Mourinho's reign at Madrid and openly speaking out in favour of his former boss. This loyalty has already been rewarded and I understand that Karanka has pretty much first option on any Chelsea youngsters going out on loan and central defender Kenneth Omeruo who was on loan at Boro last season, has rejoined on a one year deal from the Blues, after impressing with his four starts for Nigeria at the World Cup and I understand one or two more might make the move up from London. 

 

Karanka has also signed left back James Husband from Doncaster Rovers and also used his contacts in Spain to snap up keeper Tomas Mejias from Real Madrid and prolific striker Kike from Murcia for a big fee (circa £3m+). Lee Tomlin and Albert Adomah are two very gifted players, who long term readers will know I rate quite highly , they joined Boro last season and both should be even more productive this time round.Likewise, centre back Daniel Ayala , who like Tomlin, joined in the last transfer window. It is amazing that George Friend has never been picked up by a top flight club and he is a very classy left back and with Husband as cover, they are very well looked after in this key position.

Adan Reach is just 20 and an England U20 international of almost limitless potential and he and Friend were picked out by a good judge I know, who saw  Boro last week in pre season, as "certain to play in the top flight". Reach is one of several who have come up from the well respected Academy at Boro which has produced players like Adam Johnson and Stewart Downing in recent years.

 

Genk striker Jelle Vossen has long been touted as on the move to Boro and it looks like that deal might still be possible and is being much discussed today, although funds are tight at the club, they will find the money for the right player and are keen to really make a big push this season. I understand that two more deals will "definitely" be done before the season starts, including another Chelsea player and this is starting to look like a squad with plenty of potential.

 

Like the coach, there are a number of players who should improve in the second season and Kike could really be the 20 goal striker they have been looking for and he could make the same sort of impact as Michu in his first season at Swansea. All the Boro supporters who went to Rochdale last week have been raving over him and already believe he is the real deal, you can see a montage of some of his goals on this  youtube  (Preview) clip.

 

Not much improvement needed to make a top six push and they could be much better than that.