Middlesbrough are said to be one of a number of English clubs weighing up a move for former Leeds United midfielder Glen Kamara this winter.

That’s according to a recent report from French outlet L’Equipe, who claim that the Teessiders are set to face competition from Premier League duo Southampton and Ipswich Town for the player, who currently plies his trade with Rennes in Ligue 1.

The Finland international only departed Elland Road over the summer, but reports claim that the 29-year-old has failed to live up to the billing since moving across the Channel for a fee said to be €10 million, with a potential loan move for the remainder of the season being mooted.

With that in mind, we spoke to Football League World’s resident Boro fan Jasper Hudson about his thoughts on the potential addition during the current transfer window, and Michael Carrick looks to add to a team struggling in the middle of the park of late.

After going down 2-1 to Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday, Carrick and his side have now just won two of their last ten games in all competitions, with a weakness in the engine room costing them dearly since their poor run started at the start of December.

With the likes of Aidan Morris and Jonny Howson unavailable through injury, and Dan Barlaser and Hayden Hackney struggling for form, Boro have been on the ropes for much of the busy Festive period, with their deficiencies in key areas costing them dear in their challenge for a play-off spot.

As yet, the north-east side are yet to bring in any new faces to the Riverside this winter, but in Kamara they could have a player who could offer a reassuring presence in his midfield role, and Hudson believes that could be invaluable given the current state of the squad.

When asked about the proposition of bringing the Rennes midfield in, the Boro fan said: “As of right now I don’t see why we wouldn’t bring him in if it was an option.

“At the start of the season our midfield was such a strong point, however recently, mainly because of injuries but also players not playing well enough, I would look at bringing him in.

“I think [Hayden] Hackney has not been good enough recently, [Dan] Barlaser is really struggling at the moment, so the midfield is an area of real frustration at the minute.

“There is a lack of quality in there which is probably why the results aren’t going as well, because it is a team and a system that relies heavily on a good midfield and good midfield play, so if it is an option of a loan I don’t see why we wouldn’t bring him in.”

Although they are in seventh-spot at time of writing and outside the play-off positions on goal difference only, the wheels have started to fall off for Boro of late, and Carrick needs some extra personnel to help his side continue in their challenge to finish in the top six this season.

After a bright start to the season in which they kept pace with the leading pack in the division, their recent slump has the Teessiders fall out of contention and lose ground on their rivals, with a number of sides in the mix for a chance to be in the end-of-season lottery that is the play-offs.

With injuries playing their part, and extra pressure put on players who have been lacking that consistency of late, Hudson is adamant his side need extra players in the middle of the park for the remainder of the season to keep standards high week to week.

He continued: “It definitely feels like the squad needs some boosting, obviously [Aidan] Morris has just returned from injury, and [Jonny] Howson is out injured, so it would be good to strengthen that midfield, give something different, and hopefully improve the quality.

“We need to get Hackney especially, but Barlaser and Morris as well, all back to the level by having someone who has not been out injured and who will hopefully create competition for places. That should help to improve our midfield performances.”