Middlesbrough Near 3.4M Signing of Sarmiento

Middlesbrough are on the verge of signing Ecuadorian winger Jeremy Sarmiento on a permanent deal from Brighton and Hove Albion, hijacking a late agreement between the player and Championship rivals Birmingham City during the January transfer window.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder, currently on loan at Serie A side Cremonese, has reportedly given his approval for the move to the Riverside Stadium. Negotiations have advanced quickly in the past 24 hours, with the transfer valued at approximately 3.4 million pounds. Middlesbrough, who sit third in the Championship and have held a top-three position since mid-August, view Sarmiento as a key addition to bolster their promotion push. The club has endured only one significant setback this season, a New Year's Day loss to Derby County, but remains in contention for an automatic return to the Premier League after nearly a decade away.

Sarmiento's career trajectory underscores his potential value in the second tier. He joined Brighton's academy from Benfica in 2021 but has made just 21 appearances for the Seagulls, prompting a series of loans. In the 2022-23 season, he spent time at West Bromwich Albion before moving to Ipswich...