Middlesbrough set to bid £10 million for Championship striker

9 July 2017

2 minute read

Middlesbrough are set to bid £10 million for Nottingham Forest striker Britt Assombalonga, according to Sunday’s print edition of The Sun.

Newly-appointed Middlesbrough boss Garry Monk will be eyeing a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking and has identified Assombalonga as a target. Middlesbrough have been linked with the striker for a few weeks but it is believed that they are yet to make a bid. Nottingham Forest have turned down a £8 million bid from Premier League side Burnley, but they are expected to follow this up with another offer.

Assombalonga began his career with Watford and had three successful loan spells before making the move to League One side Peterborough United in 2013, breaking the club’s record transfer fee. He scored 33 goals in 58 appearances in one season with the club before signing for Nottingham Forest for a fee in the region of £5 million.

So far, Assombalonga has scored 30 goals in 69 games for Forest and is a key player for the club. He scored 14 goals in 32 Championship games last season and was a big part of keeping the club in the league. Forest finished 21st in the Championship last season and only avoided relegation to League One on goal difference. Assombalonga’s two goals against Ipswich Town on the final day of the season were crucial in a 3-0 win.

Therefore, Forest are very keen on keeping hold of the striker this summer and using him to try and push for promotion under Mark Warburton. However, they may struggle to turn down a £15 million offer.

[interaction id=”595c996df7ddd65e0bcdfe45″]

Middlesbrough are set to offer £10 million, using funds from their sale of striker Jordan Rhodes plus the money they will get from parachute payments.

Burnley are set to offer Forest a swap deal including defender Tendayi Darikwa.