According to FLW’s Middlesbrough fan commentator, Aidan Morris might be Jonny Howson’s long-term successor. According to The Athletic, Middlesbrough have agreed to pay more than £3 million to recruit midfielder Aidan Morris from Columbus Crew, as Michael Carrick looks to improve his team for another promotion drive this summer.
Teesside Live recently announced that Middlesbrough were ‘down the line’ in negotiations with a central midfielder, which appears to be the 22-year-old American.
Bringing in midfield reinforcements was always going to be a priority after Lewis O’Brien returned to Nottingham Forest from his loan spell, and it’s an area where they were clearly lacking.
According to The Athletic, Middlesbrough has agreed to sign Morris for $4 million (about £3.1 million). According to reports, the deal contains a sell-on provision, and Morris has long wanted to play football in Europe.
The young midfielder has left the U-23 national team camp to travel to Teesside to finish the arrangements, but the move will not be confirmed until Morris plays his final game for Columbus Crew, according to reports.
Colombus Crew’s next game is this Saturday (15 June) against New York City FC, and after that game, it is likely that he would turn his
focus on his new profession as a Middlesbrough footballer. FLW’s Middlesbrough fan analyst Phil Spencer of talkSPORT has reacted to the transfer, predicting Morris to replace Jonny Howson as the club gradually phases out the veteran midfielder.
“I do have to say, the signing of Morris looks like a really great piece of business from Middlesbrough,” Phil told Football League World.
“So that works out to $4 million, which is around £3.1 million, and all indications are that Morris has a very bright career ahead of him.
Imminent Middlesbrough signing of Aidan Morris hailed
According to early reports, he was a defensive midfielder who could tackle hard. I suppose it’s a tenacious work horse.
“One who plays in that sort of deep lying position, but a bit further investigation reveals that he’s more of a ball-playing midfielder, which may fit in very well with Michael Carrick’s team.
“Carrick has been seeking for a more robust presence in the middle of the park, and Morris is definitely a player who fits the bill.
“But, more than anything, he’s someone who is really comfortable on the ball and wants to move the ball up the field rapidly.
“He prefers to play direct passes, which will come in handy with this Middlesbrough team. So, while he is coming in to help shore up the midfield, he is also capable of competing with Jonny Howson, Hayden Hackney, and Dan Barlaser.
“I suppose he is Jonny Howson’s replacement. We are in the process of identifying a player who can succeed him in the long term.
“Given his age and the fact that he has signed a one-year contract, I believe he is expecting to be weaned out of the first-team fold during this campaign.
“Morris is coming from Columbus Crew, and it may take some time for him to adjust to the demands of English football, but from what I’ve seen and heard – from people who know far more about him than I do – he appears to be a really exciting prospect with a very high ceiling in terms of what he can potentially be.
“As far as I am concerned, he appears to be an excellent addition for Middlesbrough.
“The fact that we are moving very quickly to bring him in is a very reassuring sign, as Middlesbrough prepare for a big season in the Championship.”
Middlesbrough deal for Aidan Morris is a positive step ahead of 2024-25 season
Morris is a high-energy box-to-box midfielder with an eye for goal who also plays well out of possession, which will undoubtedly fit Carrick’s setup at The Riverside.
Morris, a two-time MLS Cup winner with the Columbus Crew, missed the entire 2021 season due to injury, but has elevated his game since his return and hopes to become a vital component in Boro’s midfield under Carrick.
He has played in 79 MLS games in all, so he will come to Boro with a respectable pedigree despite the fact that he is still a young player with more levels to go in his development.
He should transition well to English football, coming from
Wilfried Nancy, one of the league’s greatest managers, coaches the squad, which plays some of the best football in MLS. Morris should be able to rapidly adjust to Carrick’s demanding and fierce style of play.
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