VAN THE MAN FOR BORO
PULIS TARGETS HUDDERSFIELD WINGER IN LOAN SWOOP
Middlesbrough are close to sealing their first January signing after Huddersfield Town winger Rajiv van La Parra arrived on Teesside for a medical.
The 27-year-old, halfbrother of former Newcastle United midfielder Gini Wijnadlum, landed in the North East yesterday ahead of a potential move.
It is thought van La Parra will sign on loan until the end of the season with an option for Tony Pulis to make his switch permanent in the summer.
Having played a pivotal part in helping the Terriers to the Premier League in 2017, the Dutchman appeared 33 times last term as the club achieved top-flight survival against all the odds.
This time around though, van La Parra has found firstteam football hard to come by with just five outings to his name so far, having not kicked a ball since the beginning of October.
Boro has been left light in the wide areas after allowing Adama Traore to join Wolverhampton Wanderers for £18million in August.
Pulis, on most occasions this term, has opted for a wing-back system – most recently Paddy McNair and George Friend fulfilling those positions in the 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.
If the deal can be pushed through, van La Parra’s arrival could spark a change in formation from Pulis and help get their season back on track following just one win in their six Championship fixtures.
Van La Parra is deemed to have similar attributes to those that Traore possessed, which Boro fans could see in time for their 2019 opener with playoff rivals Derby County.
Boro have lost three times in their last four home games, with Pulis admitting their form at the Riverside needs improving.
There were boos at fulltime on Boxing Day after Sheffield Wednesday won 1-0 but Pulis says his players must be big enough to handle the pressure.
“You have to accept there is sometimes going to be criticism,” said Pulis.
“It’s a big club with big expectations.
“People want performances and results.”