Middlesbrough's recruitment team all on the same page with Chris Wilder as he offers transfer update

Chris Wilder insists that he, Steve Gibson, Kieran Scott and Neil Bausor are all on the same page this summer and all working tirelessly to get transfers over the line to strengthen Middlesbrough's squad. The trio form the key officials in Boro's recruitment drive, along with Wilder as first-team manager.

Boro's preparations on the pitch took another step in a positive direction on Tuesday evening as they looked sharp in beating League One side Morecambe 3-0. Watching on from the stands was fourth summer signing Zack Steffen after his move was completed earlier in the day.

But Boro are still yet to manage a breakthrough in the other key position they had to strengthen this summer which was upfront. They continue to work hard on that front and have assurances for a couple of players that they want to join the club, but they have to be patient to get them because their parent clubs currently won't let them out until they do their own business.

Boro impressive in a controlled and dominant victory at Morecambe

But with just ten days remaining until the start of the season, reinforcements are still needed and Wilder insists everyone is aware of it. Meanwhile, the big-money sale of Djed Spence should help their cause too, with the club netting an eight-figure fee upfront for the young right-back in the deal that saw him move to Tottenham.

Offering an update on transfers, Wilder said: “These things, as we’ve seen with Spence, can take time and they don’t always happen quickly. Every manager would ideally love 23-24 players to work with right through pre-season but it just doesn’t work that way.

"We have got targets, but there might be other players that pop up towards the back end of this week or next, and we think, we can