Aitor Karanka says he’s delighted the January transfer window has closed as he has found January to be particularly demanding
Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka
Aitor Karanka says he’s delighted the January transfer window has closed.
The Boro boss said at the start of the month that he wanted to strengthen his squad during the window but would only sign players who were better than the ones he already had.
As a new manager, he’s found January particularly demanding but says it’s all part of the job.
“It will be nice to simply concentrate on preparing the players for matches on the training ground,” he said. “That said, the loan window will open next week! But I’m a manager and it’s part and parcel of the job,” he added. “The important thing is that we improved the squad in January.”
As expected it was a busy transfer deadline day at Rockliffe Park as Steve Gibson and Neil Bausor tried to push through late signings. Boro provisionally agreed a deal with Sunderland to sign Danny Graham on loan for the rest of the season.
The 28-year-old, who turned down an approach from Watford in favour of a return to the club where he started his career, joined Hull City on loan at the start of the season.
Graham Dorrans was another player who discussed a move to Boro. The 26-year-old West Brom midfielder turned a move for personal reasons but could well permanent switch in the summer. The surprise story of the day was Marvin Emnes’s proposed switch to Swansea on loan for the rest of the season.
Swansea have been courting Emnes’s signature since he moved to the Liberty Stadium on loan in October 2010.
Swansea chief scout Dave Leadbeater previously worked for Boro and was instrumental in the club signing Emnes from Sparta Rotterdam in July 2008.
He’s kept tabs on Emnes during his time on Teesside and Swansea made a serious attempt to sign him in the summer of 2012. Boro turned down that approach because the player had just enjoyed his best season with the club, scoring 18 Championship goals.
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