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Middlesbrough must make a loan move for Jermain Defoe at the start of 2019, with the experienced forward currently struggling for football at Bournemouth.

What's the word, then?

Defoe made 26 appearances in all competitions for Bournemouth last term, and whilst he has been involved for the Cherries this term, there is no question that he is down the pecking order.

Indeed, Callum Wilson and Josh King are Bournemouth’s first-choice pairing in the final third, and Defoe has struggled for Premier League football this season.

The centre-forward’s contract at the Vitality Stadium will run until the summer of 2020, but there is every chance that he could leave before then.

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Nottingham Forest have recently been linked with a move for Defoe, but Boro should do all they can to bring the Englishman to the Riverside Stadium.

Do Middlesbrough have a chance?

The fact that Bournemouth and Middlesbrough are not exactly close in terms of location could prove to be a problem when it comes to this particular deal.

Defoe did turn out for Sunderland between 2015 and 2017, however, which suggests that he would have no problems making the move, even just for the second half of the 2018-19 campaign.

The 36-year-old has been a goalscorer at every club that he was represented, and a record of 163 strikes in 496 Premier League appearances is very impressive indeed.

Boro have proved to be difficult to score against this season, but they have really struggled for goals down the other end of the field.

And bringing Defoe to the Riverside next month would be a huge upgrade on the likes of Britt Assombalonga, Jordan Hugill, Ashley Fletcher and Rudy Gestede.