Middlesbrough had the chance to sign Timothy Fosu-Mensah but is said to have declined the offer due to concerns over his fitness. Fosu-Mensah, who became a free agent after departing Bayer Leverkusen last summer, has been working on his fitness by training with Jong Ajax. Although several Championship clubs, such as Middlesbrough, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City, and Blackburn Rovers, were reportedly approached with the offer, they all are believed to have rejected it because of doubts about his physical condition. His career has been affected by injuries, including a major cruciate ligament injury during his stint at Leverkusen, which resulted in a nine-month absence from the field.