Irish international Ryan Manning's contract at Southampton is set to expire in less than 12 months, which could make him a free transfer target. Middlesbrough will likely need another left-back because the deals for Neto Borges, Luke Ayling, and Alex Bangura are also scheduled to end after the season. Acquiring a new left-back is considered a necessity for Middlesbrough, regardless of their league status. The 30-year-old's experience is viewed as a potential benefit for a young squad, and his abilities are considered a good fit for the tactical system under manager Kim Hellberg. It has been suggested that Burnley, another Championship club, is monitoring the defender's situation. Manning has been capped 27 times for Ireland and joined Southampton in July 2023. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is €2.80m.