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The current season is far from over and, the way things are going, could well continue into June and even July.

But that doesn’t stop the transfer rumour mill from operating in top gear. Middlesbrough, like all clubs in the Championship, have been linked with plenty of players but what can we learn from the kind of names that have been mentioned so far?

Well, with just a couple of exceptions, the common denominator seems to be attacking talent. If the speculation is to be believed, Boro are keeping a close eye on several attacking midfielders and strikers.

Of course, there’s so much water to flow under the bridge before the next transfer opens - whenever that turns out to be - but until then let’s have a quick look at the players linked with Middlesbrough over the past few weeks.

Jack Clarke (Tottenham) Winger

The former Leeds wideman is almost certain to be put up for loan again ahead of next season.

Boro were keen on signing the York-born teenager in January after his loan with Leeds was ended early due to a lack of first team action.

QPR won the chase for his signature and Clarke moved to Loftus Road until the end of the season but barely got a kick before the campaign was suspended.

Undoubtedly talented, Clarke needs first team football to build on the breakthrough season with Leeds that earned him a £10m move to Spurs.

Sam Cosgrove (Aberdeen) Forward

The bustling English striker has been winning rave reviews North of the Border at Aberdeen and, as a result, is thought to be a target for several English club.

He has two years remaining on his current deal and manager Derek McInnes laughed off suggestions that the Aberdeen would accept offers in the region of £2m.

Cosgrove is the club’s top scorer with 11 goals and Stoke City are believed to be particularly keen.

Lyndon Dykes (Livingston) Forward

The Australia-born striker is not only in demand at club level due to his scoring form with Livingston but also subject to a selection tug-of-war internationally as well.

Boro are just one of many club linked with the 24-year-old, who’s also on the radar of Stoke and Rangers, among others.

But Scotland and Australia are both hoping he’ll commit his international future to them. There can only one winner, of course, but for the time being Dykes, who has Scottish parents, is refusing to be drawn.

Morgan Fox (Sheffield Wednesday) Left-back

The in-demand left-back will be a free agent in the summer and there’s likely to be a battle for his signature.

Owls boss Garry Monk is hopeful the 26-year-old will sign a new deal but with Wednesday facing an uncertain future on and off the pitch due to FFP, Fox could decide to try his luck elsewhere.

(Image: West Lothian Courier)

Seven players at Boro will be out of contract in the summer, including long-time left-back George Friend, who has been plagued by injuries this season. Whether he’s offered a new deal remains to be seen. Both Marvin Johnson and Hayden Coulson have been helping out at the back but Johnson is also out of contract in July while Coulson has a lot to offer in his preferred position on the left of midfield.

Boro signed Marc Bola from Blackpool to play at left-back last summer but the 22-year-old has struggled to adapt to life in the Championship.

Ben Gibson (Burnley) Centre-back

Boro tried hard to sign their former skipper on loan in January and the player was keen to return. However, Burnley wouldn’t sanction the deal and Gibson was left in limbo.

He moved home to train with Boro before the lockdown and his future is far from certain. He seems to have come to the end of the road with Clarets boss Sean Dyche and will surely be allowed to leave in the summer.

Whether that’s on loan or a permanent deal remains to be seen. Financially, Boro would struggle to fund long-term deal but both parties would presumably be keen on a reunion. Gibson has barely played competitive football since joining Burnley in a £15m move in August 2018 and, at 27, wants to make up for lost time.

Lynden Gooch (Sunderland) Attacker/wideman

The American-born 24-year-old still has two years on his current deal but is also being watched by several clubs after reaching double figures in the goals scored column.

Phil Parkinson’s Sunderland are in with a chance of winning promotion and if they do they will be in a strong position to fend off bids from other Championship clubs for Gooch, who is a USA international.

Speaking recently, he said: "Reaching 100 games for Sunderland was an incredibly proud moment for me. I want to consistently score goals and have an impact all over the pitch."

Jordan Jones (Rangers) Winger

The former Boro wideman is thought to be keen on a return to Teesside and there was a lot of talk about him coming home in January.

He got off to a bright start at Rangers following his move from Kilmarnock last summer but then seriously injured himself making a rash challenge in an Auld Firm derby.

That didn’t go down too well with his manager Steven Gerrard, who publicly criticised the Redcar-born winger. Gerrard’s long-term future at Ibrox could well decide whether Jones stays on at Rangers or looks to move back to England.

Patrick Roberts (Manchester City) Winger/attacking midfielder

There’s no doubt Boro would love to re-sign Roberts on a season-long loan but they could face stiff opposition.

The 23-year-old is believed to be wanted by Celtic, where he spent three successful loan spells and they may be prepared to table a bid to sign him on a long-term deal.

(Image: PA)

Boro are thought to be in a strong position to retain Roberts if they avoid the drop.

Jonathan Woodgate has been impressed with what he’s seen so far while the playmaker has enjoyed his time with Middlesbrough, despite suffering a nasty hamstring tear.

Ivan Toney (Peterborough) Striker

The former Newcastle striker is likely to cost much more that Boro could possibly afford if Posh end up selling him.

Director of football Barry Fry is realistic enough to recognise that Toney will be leaving London Road if Peterborough fail to win promotion to the Championship.

But if they do go up, the club are planning on offering him a lucrative new contract.

The 24-year-old is currently the League One top scorer and, inside the club, is reportedly valued at £13m.

Duncan Watmore (Sunderland) Attacker/wideman

Watmore, 26, is a former England Under-21 international who is out of contract this summer and, as a free agent, is sure to attract interest with Boro being mentioned.

He said recently: “I think about half the Sunderland squad are out of contract on June 30 so I don't know how that's going to get resolved.

“There's so much uncertainty around the whole world at the moment that you can't really be making predictions or planning for things - you've just got to deal with it on a day-by-day basis I suppose.”