Middlesbrough are pondering a move for Slovan Bratislava striker David Strelec before the January transfer deadline.
Alan Nixon estimates the forward might cost up to £5 million.
The Northern Echo reports that the Championship side is considering him as a substitute for Emmanuel Latte Lath, whose future is uncertain.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs of Give Me Sport, the transfer of Latte Lath to Atlanta United is now stalled.
| David Strelec – Slovan Bratislava league goals and appearances (per Fotmob.com) | ||||
| Season | Appearances | Goals (Assists) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 28 | 11 (10) | ||
| 2024-25 | 18 | 10 (2) | ||
| As of January 28th | ||||
David Strelec transfer verdict
When asked about Strelec joining the club, FLW’s Middlesbrough fan pundit Jasper Hudson suggested that he would only sign if Latte Lath left.
He believes the 23-year-old will be a different type of player than the Ivorian, but he trusts the recruitment team to make the correct decision, even though he is dubious about the move himself.
“From what I’ve seen, Strelec is very much the replacement should Latte Lath leave, but it very much is a ‘should’ Latte Lath leave, as opposed to him coming in regardless,” Hudson disclosed to Football League World.
“Based on what I’ve seen, it’s difficult to make a judgement.
“He wasn’t great against Stuttgart, but he was playing against a weaker squad, and he’ll have a difficult time there.
“He’s more of a hold-up player, so he has a different play style than Latte Lath, so it would be interesting to see how it goes.
“Could he possibly fit Carrick’s system better? I believe that having Latte Lath as a point of differentiation in the offensive will benefit us.
“For £5 million, I’m not fully sure, but I believe in our recruits.
“If Latte Lath leaves, there will still be a significant profit, especially given the Whittaker sale and other factors.
“So, should Latte Lath leave, I think he could go on to become a good replacement.”
Middlesbrough is presently sixth in the Championship table after 29 games played.
Strelec signing would be exciting for Middlesbrough
Losing Latte Lath midway through the season would be a setback to the team’s promotion hopes, so a replacement must be found.
According to Teesside Live, a £5 million deal for Strelec could be beneficial due to the costs involved. Latte Lath is expected to depart for up to £18 million.
The Slovakian has now played in the Champions League and understands what it takes to compete at the top level.
Middlesbrough may benefit from his unique approach, which differs from Latte Lath’s. This might help the club win more games and compete for promotion to the Premier League.
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