Karanka Targets Chelsea Duo

Karanka: Confirmed interest in Blues duo

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka confirmed he is aiming to sign two players on loan from Chelsea after watching his side win 3-0 at Oldham in the first round of the Capital One Cup.

Boro are chasing striker Patrick Bamford and midfielder George Saville as they bid to launch a Sky Bet Championship promotion campaign.

Bamford, 20, impressed on loan at Derby and MK Dons last season, while Saville, 21, helped Brentford win promotion from League One.

Karanka has strong links with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho as the pair worked together closely at Real Madrid.

Boro's cup progress at Oldham was untroubled after Luke Williams had fired them ahead on the half-hour mark with a 30-yard thunderbolt.

Adam Reach set up Grant Leadbitter to slot in their second in the 48th minute and substitute Kike rounded off the win with a clinical 10-yard finish on the hour-mark.

Boro could have stretched their lead on a comfortable night, while League One side Oldham did not manage a shot on target.

Karanka said: "We are improving every day and showing we are a good team, but I also want to sign more players.
 

"Maybe two or three more signings will be enough for me to have the squad that I want.

"We are not strong enough at the moment. I want players who can't sleep because they are worried that someone else will take their place.

"I hope we will sign the two from Chelsea. The club are working on that, but we have got seven games in 22 days so I'm concentrating on the games.

"We were very good here and I'm pleased. The players who came into the team did well, we didn't concede any goals and we fought to the last second

"It was the kind of game that can be difficult and Oldham put us under some pressure, but we were strong."
Oldham manager Lee Johnson admitted it was "men against boys" as his team went out of the Capital One Cup with a whimper.

Johnson said: "It was a disappointing night for us, no doubt. It's fair to say we were out-fought, out-thought and out-energised.
'
"It's understandable because you have to look at the two clubs and see where we are, but I hoped we would put up more of a fight.

"We didn't compete well enough in the first 20 minutes and that really set the tone.

"We tried to get the ball down after half-time, but it was men against boys and we didn't do enough to test their keeper.

"That's a worry in some ways and I was disappointed in one or two players who showed a weak mindset, but you've got to remember we were playing a very good Championship side.

"In our league, we won't come up against any team who are anything like as good as Middlesbrough, so some of our younger lads will learn a lot from this experience."