?Middlesborough FC are set to lose their attacking midfielder Gastón Ramirez to Benfica, as the North East side prepare for life in the Championship next season. Boro finished 19th in the Premier League, 12 points away from safety and scoring just 27 goals – less than any other side in the division.
As is customary when a club is relegated, a number of players are now likely to jump ship, as they are unwilling to play their football at a lower level. According to reports from abola, the Uruguayan international Ramirez is now close to joining Portuguese Premeira Liga side S.L. Benfica, for a fee believed to be in the region of £5m.
The fiery midfielder failed to deliver the goods for Middlesborough this season, contributing just three assists and two goals in his 24 league appearances at the Riverside Stadium. While the midfielder did produce an excellent performance in the side’s 1-0 home victory of Hull City, he is most likely to be remembered by the fans for his moment of madness in their abject 4-0 away loss to Bournemouth: booked for diving and then sent off for a wild challenge on Marc Pugh, Ramirez was less than popular with the away fans on this occasion.
Signed on a free transfer from Southampton in last summer’s transfer window, the Boro fans had hoped that the player would recreate the form he had found when on loan at the club the previous season.
Then fighting for promotion from the Championship, the North East side used Ramirez to great effect, seeing the versatile midfielder score an impressive seven goals in 18 matches. Unfortunately for Middlesborough, he was unable to reignite the magic in the Premier League.
Middlesbrough are likely to lose a number of first team players, but will be desperate to hang onto their club captain Ben Gibson in the summer transfer window. The local lad, who famously described his side’s relegation to the Championship as one of the worst days of his life, is rumoured to be sought after by a number of high profile Premier League sides.
The centre-back proved a solitary bright spark among a side bereft of quality and confidence throughout last season’s campaign. His performances did not go unnoticed, and led to his call-up to England’s national team by manager and former Middlesbrough captain Gareth Southgate.
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