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'Not done yet' - Kim Hellberg provides a Middlesbrough transfer update before the season kick-off Kim Hellberg was asked about Middlesbrough transfers ahead of the season opener against Lincoln City Kim Hellberg insists that Middlesbrough are still in the market for more signings, as he praised the recruitment team for their work to strengthen his squad. Boro have so far added six new players ahead of the new Championship season kicking off on Saturday at home to Lincoln City. In doing so, they’ve ticked off a number of the priorities they identified at the end of last season, as Boro just missed out on promotion to the Premier League. But it was always expected that there was more to do, with centre-back, midfield and the wing areas that Boro still wish to strengthen. Hellberg assured: “It’s been a good summer. I think the transfer window has been very good for us. Steve, Kieran and Neil have done a brilliant job, with many other people working with them, helping them to get a very strong squad here. “We are not done yet. I think there will be some people walking through the doors. But I am looking at a squad that is very hungry and I love the profile of the players we’ve signed. “It’s a lot of young players who want to achieve, and want to work hard to get better. I would rate the summer quite high.” The centre-back situation is one that is currently uncertain, amid the pause on a deal to sign Tottenham defender Ashley Phillips. Boro had agreed a deal initially worth £7m for the 21-year-old centre-back, only for a last-minute snag to cause a delay to the move, which is as yet unresolved. While Hellberg would never address a player directly who hasn’t signed for the club, he did go on to confirm centre-back would be an area they strengthen, after being asked about Adilson Malanda’s role in midfield against Wrexham to cover Aidan Morris’ injury. Hellberg said: “I see Malanda as a centre-back, that’s where I think he is one of the best players in the league. In general, I see him as a centre-back and that’s where we will mainly play him. “Then, of course, he has the quality to do different things and cover for players that are not here because of injury or whatever. In that situation, you can work from a back three and he can step up and do different things. In general, though, I see him as a centre-back. “I still think we need one more central defender. I think that’s quite clear, and I think that will happen. It’s just a question of when and who. But I think there will be one more centre-back here in a few weeks.” ------------- Get Teesside Live Premium now for just £1 HERE – exclusive Boro news and features, transfer notebooks, comment and analysis from Eric Paylor, plus an ad-lite experience Join our WhatsApp community to get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. Your information will be hidden, you'll only ever receive messages from the Teesside Live sports team, and you can leave any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.