SLOVAKIAN international striker David Strelec is one of the players in Middlesbrough's thinking if they have to replace Emmanuel Latte Lath this month.

Boro have had to prepare for the possibility of losing their top scorer and Strelec is understood to be one of the players who has been closely monitored.

But he isn't the only striker on Boro's radar as the club plan for the possibility of having to act if Latte Lath leaves ahead of the transfer deadline a week on Monday. Strelec according to reports today, would be keen on a Boro move.

Strelec has impressed in his homeland with Slovan Bratislava this season, scoring 10 goals in 18 appearances in the league and hitting the net twice in the Champions League, one of which came away to Atletico Madrid.

The 23-year-old started out at Slovan Bratislava before leaving for a short spell in Italy with Spezia. He went on loan to Reggina before another temporary spell back at Slovan Bratislava. That deal was made permanent last year and Strelec has since turned heads again with his form in his homeland. Strelec featured in all four of Slovakia's games at last summer's European Championships and started against England in the dramatic last 16 clash.

Slovan Bratislava are top of the Slovakian Super Liga and are away to Bayern Munich in the Champions League this week.

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Boro will only sign a striker this month if Latte Lath moves on. Latte Lath's future remains unclear amid Atalanta United's £20m move to sign the 26-year-old, who suffered a groin injury in Saturday's defeat to Preston.

The injury will be closely monitored in the coming days, but head coach Michael Carrick isn't due to next speak to the media until the back end of the week.

Boro are next in action a week on Monday at home to Sunderland, with the game kicking off with just three hours of the transfer window remaining.

Carrick admitted after Saturday's Preston defeat he isn't sure whether Tommy Conway, who has been sidelined since Boxing Day, will be available to return to face the Black Cats.