According to The Northern Echo, Middlesbrough striker Martin Braithwaite is ‘set to sign’ for Italian Serie A side Sassuolo.
The Middlesbrough forward is in high demand this summer with a whole host of clubs interested in the Danish international.
Braithwaite spent the second half of last season on loan at La Liga side Leganes, and it is believed they would be keen to pursue a permanent deal for the 28-year old. However, Boro may demand a transfer fee outside of the Spanish team’s price range.
Equally, fellow-La Liga side Girona are also scouting the striker, who scored four goals in 13 appearances in Spain last season.
Having signed for a fee believed to be in the region of £9 million from French side Toulouse in 2017, Middlesbrough are likely to want to recuperate the majority, if not all, of the amount paid to the Ligue 1 outfit two years ago.
As well as Spain being an option for Braithwaite, Italy could also be a destination to play his football next season. Sassuolo are wanting to sign the Dane, and according to the report they do have a large transfer kitty to spend this window.
Sassuolo finished in 11th place last season, their joint-second highest finish since their promotion from Serie B in 2013/14, with their best points tally coming in the 2015/16 season when they finished in sixth place.
New Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate has stated that everyone at the club will start with a clean state, including Braithwaite, and he could yet have a chance to impress the new boss. However, it is looking increasingly likely the forward will depart the Riverside before the Championship kicks off in August.
