Middlesbrough fans will be heartbroken that the club is still in the Championship after coming so close to promotion to the Premier League at various points last season.

Borough were second in the table for the duration of the season but a disappointing run of games at the end saw them finish fifth and have to settle for the Championship play-offs.

After losing 2-1 on aggregate to Southampton in the play-offs, Kim Hellberg’s club was given another chance to win promotion when the Saints were banned due to the Spygate controversy. However, Hull City overcame them 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.

Now, the Teesside club will attempt to compete in what appears to be a more competitive Championship this season. However, in order to finish near the top of the table, they will require reinforcements.

Middlesbrough are looking at the David Ozoh transfer deal.

According to Alan Nixon on Patreon, Middlesbrough are interested in former Derby County loanee David Ozoh, who has returned to parent club Crystal Palace after his time at Pride Park.

The defensive midfielder made 33 Championship games for the Rams last season, but a thigh injury midway through disrupted his career.

It was Ozoh’s second loan spell at Pride Park, having previously spent the 2024/25 season in the East Midlands. He appeared in 47 games in all, with his most productive season coming last.

The 21-year-old was popular at Pride Park, but it appears that new Eagles manager Pierre Sage will not give the midfielder a chance to prove his worth ahead of the Premier League and Europa League seasons, with Nixon reporting that the south London club may send the midfielder out on loan again or cash in, with only one year remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park.

David Ozoh could be part of Hayden Hackney’s swap bid for Crystal Palace.

According to Nixon’s claim, Middlesbrough might use their interest in Ozoh to negotiate a trade for star midfielder Hayden Hackney, who has already attracted considerable attention from Palace and Everton this summer.

Borough appear to be resigned to losing the 23-year-old this summer, but they are reportedly seeking roughly £25 million for the midfielder.

Hackey appeared in practically every minute of Middlesbrough’s regular season before suffering an injury that kept him out of the last eight league games and both legs of the play-off semi-final against Southampton. He returned from the bench in the final defeat to Hull.

At only 23, the midfielder captained Borough on a few occasions and became a vital member of Hellberg’s squad.

However, if the Teesside club does sell their great player, Ozoh may be an excellent substitute. Furthermore, the ball is in Middlesbrough’s court if they wish to leverage their interest in Hackney when negotiating a move with Palace.

The Palace youth product has made 13 senior appearances for the Eagles, but does not appear to be in their immediate plans and may have to leave once more for regular football.

If Borough can negotiate a contract in which they receive a big transfer price for Hackney as well as Ozoh’s services, there will undoubtedly be few objections.