Seven reasons why Middlesbrough need to achieve promotion this season

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TV Money 

It’s no secret that next seasons Premier League will be the most rewarding in the competition’s history. Even the team which finishes bottom will bag a hefty £99 million next season – that could mean all 20 Premier League teams might break into the top 30 richest clubs in the world. To put that in perspective, in 2014 Burnley, then in the top flight, earned more than Dutch champions Ajax. How crazy is that?

Better Competition

If Boro stay in the Championship they will have to battle against the three clubs which go down campaign. Aston Villa may have looked poor in the Premier League this season, but they could still be a real force in the Championship. Established Premier League clubs like Newcastle and Sunderland could also slip down into the second tier and will be determined to return.

Players May Leave

It may seem unlikely considering the tightly knit squad Boro appear to have; even so it’s not out of the question that some of their better players might leave if the Teessiders don’t go up. George Friend and Daniel Ayala appear in most peoples Championship XI and are bound to attract some interest. Likewise Ben Gibson is an up and coming centre half who has been linked with Premier League clubs in the past.

Money Has Been Spent

With Steve Gibson at the helm Boro are in safe hands off the field, however they have spent a fair bit in the past two transfer windows. Stewart Downing, David Nugent and most recently Jordan Rhodes have all come for sizable fees. It may therefore be difficult for the Boro chairman to dip back into his pocket and launch another push for promotion.