Chris Wilder offers Middlesbrough transfer update as he discusses difficult striker search

Chris Wilder remains delighted and optimistic about the progress that Middlesbrough are making this summer as he continues his attempts to strengthen his squad. The Boro boss offered an update on transfers after watching his side kick-off their pre-season schedule with a 5-0 win at Bishop Auckland.

All three new signings so far this summer were in action in the win, with Liam Roberts playing the full 90 minutes in goal, while Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Giles played the first 45 minutes. Former Huddersfield and Stoke right-back Tommy Smith was also in action the first half at Bishop, with the defender currently training at the club ahead of potentially earning a new contract.

There is still plenty of work to be done to get the squad looking exactly as Wilder wants it of course though, and while the Boro boss wouldn't name any names, he did say he was delighted with where things were and said things were progressing on a couple of their targets.

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Asked about reports linking Boro with a loan move for Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen, Wilder said: “I thought Robbo (Roberts) was great at Bishop Auckland. He didn’t have a lot to do, but he’s impressed everybody with his personality as much as his ability. He’s a really good addition to the goalkeeping department, although we’re obviously after another one.

"There’ll be names linked, but I’m never going to come out and talk about them until they’re in a Middlesbrough shirt because so much can happen between talks and signing. We’re progressing nicely with a few potential signings. A lot of the clubs have only come back this week, whereas we’ve been back for a week before that.

"We’re