Middlesbrough are going to have a decision to make on Sam Greenwood come the summer transfer window.
The attacker is currently on loan with Michael Carrick‘s side, having joined from Leeds United at the start of this season.
As part of that deal, ‘Boro have the option to make that move permanent at the end of the current campaign.
There is now little more than a month to go until the end of the regular campaign. As a result, Middlesbrough will soon have to decide whether they want to make Greenwood’s move a long-term one.
However, it seems as though there is some doubt as to whether keeping the 22-year-old would be the right move for them to make.
Reporter gives Sam Greenwood transfer verdict
Since making the move to Middlesbrough, Greenwood has struggled to make an impact at times.
The attacker has so far scored five goals and provided three assists in 32 appearances in all competitions.
Despite that, journalist Phil Spencer believes the £1.5million ‘Boro would have to pay to sign Greenwood permanently could be a fair price.
He is however, more concerned about what such a move might mean for the wage structure at the club.
Taking to X to give his thoughts on whether Middlesbrough should sign Greenwood permanently, the reporter said:
“Despite his struggles this term, £1.5m for Sam Greenwood would still be a decent deal. The issue is his wages (which rise if Leeds go up) as it means we’d likely have to make him one of our top earners. Personally, I’m not sure he’s shown enough to deserve that.”
According to Salary Sport, Greenwood is currently earning £9,000 per week at Middlesbrough. That works out at £468,000 per year. That means he is the 18th highest earner in the squad. However, as is suggested here, promotion for parent club Leeds United means they could go up considerably.
Middlesbrough return to action after the international break on Friday 29th March. That sees them travel to St Mary’s to face Southampton.
Permanent deal a risk for Middlesbrough
It could certainly be hard to argue that a permanent deal for Greenwood is worth pursuing for ‘Boro at this moment in time.
There is a good chance that Carrick’s side will be aiming for promotion to the Premier League again next season.
That is of course, if they do not win promotion via a late run into the top six during the current campaign.
Either way, Middlesbrough will be needing players who can make significant and regular contributions for them.
So far this season, Greenwood has not exactly done that. He may therefore not be the type of player they need to aim to sign come the summer.
Indeed, it has recently been suggested that ‘Boro will be operating on a relatively small budget when the window opens.
As a result, it may not be worth investing in a player in Greenwood who is going to take a considerable chunk out of that budget for Middlesbrough, when he is yet to prove himself for the club.