Breaking: Middlesbrough must be tempted to hijack the Sunderland-West Ham agreement.

Indeed, as the season has came to a close, whispers regarding potential deals have heated up in recent weeks, and with the completion of the 2023/24 action, reports are anticipated to accelerate soon.

Divin Mubama, a West Ham United striker, has been linked with Championship club Sunderland.

According to The Athletic, the Black Cats are presently the front-runners to sign the 19-year-old when his contract with the London Stadium expires this summer.

West Ham offered the teenage striker a new contract earlier this season, but it was rejected, and no further developments have appeared since, suggesting he will go before the end of June.

Although Sunderland are reported to be frontrunners for his signature, there is every reason to believe that Middlesbrough and Michael Carrick should try to hijack the deal and bring Mubama to the Riverside Stadium instead.

First and foremost, Mubama is a promising young talent. Although game time has been limited at the London Stadium thus far in his career, this fact should not be forgotten, as evidenced by the fact that the Hammers are eager to keep him and sign him to a long-term contract.

Not only is the above rationale correct, but Middlesbrough also has to strengthen its striking position this summer.

Emmanuel Latte Lath has had a fantastic season at the Riverside, scoring 18 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions, but no other forwards have reached double digits, highlighting a serious weakness in Carrick’s team.

Sam Greenwood’s five goals in 37 games haven’t made Middlesbrough eager to make his loan deal from Leeds United permanent this summer, and it appears that another of Boro’s forward options, Josh Coburn, would benefit greatly from some regular game time on loan next season after a disappointing individual season.

Sunderland, meanwhile, already has two young forwards, Eliezer Mayenda and Luis Semedo, who are yet to make an impact in the Championship.

Mubama would fall into the similar category, however his Premier League experience places him ahead of the aforementioned duo in terms of fit for the Black Cats squad.

Given Mubama’s quality and potential, as well as Middlesbrough’s need for more depth in the striker position, a summer transfer for the West Ham forward appears to make a lot of sense.

Not only that, but because his contract is about to end, only a compensation fee would be required, rather than a transfer fee, which might allow the team to sign him for a very inexpensive price.

After finishing eighth in the Championship this season, such shrewd business would undoubtedly be welcomed by Carrick and the club’s hierarchy, who will have plenty of work to do in all positions over the summer months in order to get Boro back on track, which is to be play-off and promotion contenders.