Middlesbrough star Matt Crooks in advanced talks to join MLS club – sources
Matt Crooks is set to join MLS side Real Salt Lake after two-and-a-half-years at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough midfielder Matt Crooks is in advanced talks with Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake, sources have told Football Insider.
Crooks has made 31 appearances for Boro this season, managing five goals, but they are willing to let him move to America.
The 30-year-old has scored 20 goals in 102 league games for Boro since joining from Rotherham in July 2021.
The MLS window to sign foreign players opened on 31 January and the 30-year-old is expected to complete his move, ending a two-and-a-half-year stay at the Championship side.
Crooks joined the club for a reported fee of £1.1million and went on to make 115 appearances in all competitions for the Riversiders, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists.
He has not made a start for Middlesbrough in the league since their 2-1 win against Swansea City in mid-December, where he bagged the assist for their opening goal.
The former Rangers and Huddersfield man was absent from the squad for their most recent league fixture – their 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Sunday (4 February).
He started both legs of Middlesbrough’s EFL Cup semi-final ties against Chelsea last month, where they were eliminated 6-2 on aggregate.
Middlesbrough sit 12th in the Championship table after their draw against the Black Cats at the Riverside Stadium.
They are next in action at home against 14th-place Bristol City on Saturday afternoon (10 February).
In other news, Leeds United hit by stumbling block to make summer signing – sources.
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