Middlesbrough striker Matthew Hoppe is expected to depart the club this summer, according to The Northern Echo. Last season, Middlesbrough just missed out on finishing in the top six.
Michael Carrick’s team was once again hampered by a poor start. However, Carrick has committed to Hoppe, 23, who spent part of last season on loan in the MLS. The American striker appeared eight times for the San Jose Earthquakes, netting two goals, but returned to Teesside last January after the club decided not to sign him permanently.
He didn’t play a single minute for Carrick in the second half of last season, and now, after only three Championship outings, no starts, and two short-term loan spells abroad, it appears Hoppe is leaving for good. Future to
The club signed a new contract lately. According to reports, the striker’s departure is unavoidable given his position in the pecking order. It goes on to imply that a return to the MLS is highly likely. In 2022, Middlesbrough beat Sunderland to the acquisition of Hoppe. However, despite Sunderland’s striker issues, they appear to have been lucky with this deal.
The 23-year-old hasn’t gotten going at all at the Riverside, and it appears he is so far out of favour that there is no way back for Hoppe, despite having two years remaining on his contract.
Boro are looking to recruit a new striker this summer. Carrick’s team could use some more firepower, but it is one of the most difficult positions to fill during transfer windows.
So close, but so far
Middlesbrough came so close to finishing in the top six last season, and the season before that, they reached the play-off semi-finals. However, both seasons were marred by a shaky start to the campaign. A bad start cost them a top two berth in the 2022/23 season, as well as a top six finish the previous year.
This year, Carrick’s team must get off to a fast start to avoid playing catch-up from the start.
The summer timeframe offers them the ideal opportunity. to prepare for exactly that, and it will be intriguing to see if Boro can finally get off to a strong start in the Championship.
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