Emmanuel Latte Lath fee agreed as Middlesbrough quickly turn attentions to replacement
Middlesbrough have accepted an improved offer from Atlanta United for Emmanuel Latte Lath, with the striker now expected to travel to the USA to complete the move.
The MLS side first bid for Latte Lath over a fortnight ago, and while there was patience from Boro in case of any improved offers from elsewhere, they have now reached an agreement on an improved offer from Atlanta. The fee is believed to be around £22.5 million.
Latte Lath was still at Rockliffe throughout Thursday, but is believed to have completed a medical in England ahead of the move, which will see him earn a considerable wage hike. He was injured at Preston North End on Saturday, but it wasn't serious enough to deter Atlanta from paying an MLS record-fee to land the striker.
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At the start of the week, with negotiations with Atlanta reaching an impasse, Teesside Live were told he was highly likely to stay at Boro this month. Atlanta even turned their attentions to an alternative in the form of Benfica striker Arthur Cabral. However, they came back with one more offer for Latte Lath and have ultimately been able to get the deal over the line.
The agreement will represent a huge profit on the striker, who signed from Italian Serie A side Atalanta 18 months ago for a fee just over £4m. He has 11 goals this season, adding to the 18 he scored in his debut season on Teesside.
The important thing for Boro now is using the time they have left in the transfer window to secure a new centre forward - something which is believed to be advanced, with a source telling Teesside Live that any player would only leave if they had a replacement. Well aware that Latte Lath could leave this month, Boro did plenty of groundwork on potential targets should anything develop as it has.
David Strelec was one such target whose name became public. The Slovakian striker is not believed to be Boro’s only option, but a Slovan Bratislava director confirmed Boro had been in contact with them about the 23-year-old and set a €6m-€8m asking price.
