Middlesbrough are currently in the race to sign Bundesliga midfielder Kim Helberg, with the club beginning to make inquiries in the summer.
No team will go into the international break more relieved than Middlesbrough after a three-game winless run in the Championship. The promotion hopefuls have been stripped of automatic qualification as they sit just two points above Ipswich Town, who have a game in hand.
It’s a huge blow for a team that not too long ago had the potential to overtake Coventry City at the top of the Championship, but that’s the harsh reality of England’s second division.
Middlesbrough remaining games | |
|---|---|
Middlesbrough vs Millwall | March 4, 2026 |
Swansea vs Middlesbrough | 2026/06/04 |
Middlesbrough vs Portsmouth | 2026/11/04 |
Ipswich Town vs Middlesbrough | 2026/04/19 |
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield on Wednesday | 2026/04/22 |
Middlesbrough vs Watford | 2026/04/25 |
Wrexham vs Middlesbrough | 2025/02/05 |
It hasn’t been all that easy for Boro after the international break either. If other results don’t go well, they could lose the game against Millwall and drop to fourth place. However, on the final day you will have to travel to Portman Road and Wrexham.
But Helberg will be well aware of the challenges ahead and called for “balance” as his team prepare for a desperate promotion.
The 38-year-old told reporters: “Different positions have different options for what you do, but how you use your first, second and third options always depends on the quality of the player.
Middlesbrough are in the race to sign the speedster ahead of their Championship promotion rivals
Boro have entered the race for forwards.
“And different spaces mean different players need to be in different spaces. I think that’s the best way. If the players feel free, that’s a very good thing.”
“Still, from our perspective, freedom in the way we work requires a lot of structure. We want to find that balance and allow people to think and feel freely within that structure.”
His recent form has also raised questions about potential reinforcements, with reports claiming that Middlesbrough are already looking at one option.
According to Sky Germany, reported by Sport Witness, Middlesbrough have started making inquiries to sign Robin Verhauer from Augsburg this summer, and are looking to move ahead of Burnley, who had previously made inquiries.
Hayden Hackney has always attracted the attention of Premier League teams such as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, with Boro now targeting Verhauer as a potential replacement for their star man.
25/26 statistics | hackney | Fellhauer |
|---|---|---|
minutes | 3,314 | 2,230 |
collect | 205 | 98 |
tackle | 68 | 52 |
Successful duel | 47% | 55.3% |
An opportunity has arisen | 83 | twenty three |
In terms of an all-round midfielder, it would be almost impossible for Middlesbrough to replace Hackney with just one player. The deal with Fellhauer is just the beginning.
The German’s ability to play in defensive midfield, centre-back or right-back also makes him an attractive option. While he can’t replace Hackney’s recovery skills or chance creation, he would be a good option for depth in several areas.
