Despite losing former head coach Rob Edwards to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, Middlesbrough moved swiftly to appoint ex-Hammarby boss Kim Hellberg as his successor at The Riverside.
Boro currently sit second after 20 matches, having cut Coventry City’s lead to just five points—a gap that stood at ten less than a week ago.
Hellberg has settled in quickly on Teesside, making an immediate impact by winning his first three matches in charge against Derby County, Hull City, and Charlton Athletic.
There has been little to criticise about Middlesbrough’s season so far, and with Morgan Whittaker now scoring in five consecutive games after initially struggling to adapt following his January 2025 move from Plymouth Argyle, the club’s momentum could hardly be better.
As the January transfer window approaches, Boro have been linked with Elfsborg forward Jalal Abdullai, currently on loan at Molde in Norway, where he has registered four goals and one assist in 20 league appearances. The forward, who describes himself as “aggressive, fast, and strong,” would already be familiar to Hellberg from their time together in Sweden, and Boro may be preparing an offer.
Both Middlesbrough and Preston North End have been credited with interest in Abdullai.
Liam, Football League World’s Middlesbrough fan pundit, has weighed in on the speculation, expressing doubts about the potential signing.
“I can’t say I’m overly enthusiastic about a 20-year-old with nine goals in 24 appearances in that league,” he admitted. “At this point, I think we need players with experience—not necessarily older, but those in their prime to help get us over the line.
“I still think the play-offs are the realistic expectation. Investing in the future is important, but another striker isn’t really what we need. We’ve got Sene, Strelec, and others. I’d be surprised if we went for another forward.
“He could be an interesting option, but personally I’d prefer we target other positions and bring in players with more Championship experience to really push for automatic promotion. Ultimately, securing a play-off place should be the priority.”
Since arriving, Hellberg has made an excellent start, winning all three of his opening matches and overseeing a sharp, confident attacking display from his team.
The Swede, appointed to continue the progress made under Edwards, already appears to be looking ahead to January, where he is expected to have a healthy budget as Middlesbrough’s promotion push intensifies.
He has also benefitted from the return of Alex Bangura and Alex Gilbert, both of whom have slotted seamlessly back into the side after long spells out.
Whether Hellberg truly intends to make a move for Abdullai remains uncertain, but with Middlesbrough’s Premier League ambitions growing clearer with each match, the upcoming transfer window is undoubtedly on his radar.