The best move for Ashley Fletcher?
With the end of the transfer window closing in, Middlesbrough striker Ashley Fletcher could still be set for a move away from The Riverside.
Boro manager Tony Pulis has already deemed Fletcher surplus to requirements this month as he looks to trim his squad, so where could Fletcher go?
So far Barnsley, Sunderland, Rangers and Norwich have all been linked with the 22 year old striker but the question is what team would he suit the most?
So writer Jake Self takes a look at what club would suit Fletcher as well as the likelihood of him joining this team.
Barnsley
The Tykes are no strangers to Fletcher considering he spent the 2015/16 season there on loan.
While at Barnsley the striker played 27 games scoring nine goals but he warmed to fans and will go down as an important player in the clubs history as the then 20 year old striker the opening goal in the League One play-off final against Millwall.
Earlier this month Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom admitted his side were keen on re-signing Fletcher, Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Sheffield:
“Yes. (On if he wants to sign Fletcher)
“If I was speaking to him now I’d be telling him to get his head down there.
“If a footballer takes an easy way out they’re not for me so – we know what he is, what he’s about, he’s one of a number of young players at lots of clubs who… the hardest step is becoming established in the first team and there’s lots of routes for doing it.
“It can be with your parent club, you can go out on loan, you maybe have to get a move, whatever it is, and that’s the final hurdle for young players to become established and play every week.
“(We’ve got to) wait and see, he (Fletcher) is their player we can’t do anything. We could throw our hat in for every single player at every club but it’s up to the parent club what they want to do with them.”
A move to Barnsley would be a good move for Fletcher as he is already familiar with the area and would be playing with a manager who has confidence in him.
Likelihood: 4/5
Sunderland
After selling James Vaughan to Wigan and Lewis Grabban having his loan cut short, Sunderland find themselves without a proper goal scoring threat and are rooted to the bottom of the table, Sunderland are in dire need of a striker.
So could Fletcher be the one to guide them to safety?
So far this season Fletcher only has the two goals to his name, one in the league vs QPR in a 3-2 Win and the other against Scunthorpe, which Boro won 3-0.
The most admirable thing about Fletcher is his work rate, no Boro fan can say he hasn’t tried his hardest this season whenever he’s played and his work rate could be a massive boost for Sunderland.
Sunderland need someone at top who is gonna put the pressure on the opposition and Fletcher is the perfect player to do that.
Fletcher also gives the option of the long ball game due to his opposing height at 6’2ft and can work well in an 4-4-2 formation with other players running off.
I think Fletcher to Sunderland would be a good move for Sunderland but potentially a poor one for Fletcher, with Sunderland struggling to win and not being able to score if things don’t change for Fletcher it could really damage his confidence for the future and although being in a relegation scrap could be a good learning curve I don’t think it’s what Fletcher needs at this stage of his career.
Likelihood: 3/5
Rangers
According to internet reports and HITC, Rangers have shown interest in Fletcher, however I can’t see anything in this myself.
A move to Scotland would be a poor move considering the quality of football and opposition he would be up against would be a poor standard compared to what he would play against in the Championship.
A loan move up there could potentially boost his confidence if he was starting games and scoring but it wouldn’t further his development as a player and for that reason I think this is a stop start rumour and can’t Boro loaning Fletcher to Rangers as it would have very little impact on his development.
Likelihood: 1/5
Norwich
Could a move to Norwich be what Fletcher needs to further his career?
Personally I think a move to Norwich would be a good one for Boro’s £6.5m summer signing.
With Cameron Jerome having left for Championship rivals Derby County for £1.5m, Fletcher is very much a like for like replacement and would fit straight into Norwich’s starting XI.
Fletcher would suit Norwich’s system and work well with Oliveira running off of him and I reckon the Portuguese striker would also get the best out of Fletcher due to his direct style play.
A loan move would be the best option as Boro would probably still command a high fee for the striker due to the amount they paid for him in the summer but a move to Norwich would be great, especially as they aren’t in a relegation battle nor or they in a promotion battle so it would give Fletcher the opportunity to express himself and further his development.
Likelihood: 4/5
Where should he go?
Personally speaking I think the best option for Fletcher would be to stay in the Championship and go to either a team like Norwich or Barnsley.
At Barnsley he knows the place and will be playing for a manager who he knows can get the best out of him and if he goes to Norwich he’ll be in a system which suits his style of play and will have less pressure on him due to the side sitting in mid-table which will give him a great opportunity to express himself.
Only time will tell where he ends up but hopefully this window he gets a move to a club where he can reach his true potential and come back to Middlesbrough in the summer ready for the first team.