Middlesbrough striker and deadline-day Town target Emmanuel Latte Lath’s agent is expecting “something to happen” with his player in January.

The Blues made a late move for the 25-year-old in the summer, his agent Matthias Veneroso revealing in November that Town had tabled a bid of £20 million which was of such a size it had to be considered by all parties.

However, the Teessiders dug their heels in and opted not to take the cash for the Ivorian international, who is contracted until the summer of 2027 with Boro having an option for a further season.

With the opening of the January window only a couple of weeks away, Veneroso says he anticipates interest in his player, who has scored eight goals this season, seven in the last 11 matches after a 10-game dry spell.

“He’s back scoring,” he told Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb. “Eight goals in the first part of the league and we expect something to happen in January. He is an attacker and the attackers are always the subject of attention in the January market.”

Whether the Blues will return for Latte Lath, who was reported to have been watched by West Ham as he netted a hat-trick against Oxford last month, remains to be seen but Town are certain to look to add a number nine to their ranks durting January.

Kieran McKenna’s options are currently limited with George Hirst out with a knee injury, Liam Delap suspended for one match following his post-game booking at the weekend and Ali Al-Hamadi continuing to have issues with his adductor having made a big jump from playing League Two football as recently as January.

Elsewhere, Town are claimed to be among a number of clubs showing interest in 18-year-old Preston forward Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile, along with Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, by Spanish website Fichajes.net.

The Brazil-born Argentine, who is contracted until the summer of 2026, is yet to make a senior appearance for the Lilywhites, but scored against Town in the Blues’ 2-1 pre-season friendly victory at Deepdale in the summer of 2023.

Meanwhile, Town's FA Cup third-round opponents Bristol Rovers have sacked manager Matt Taylor after just over a year in the job. Coaches David Horseman and Lee Cattermole have been put in temporary charge.

Photo: Trevor Wilkinson | MI News/NurPhoto

CookAshtonJohnson added 18:01 - Dec 16 Would love to see him in a Town shirt, would be excellent cover for Delap, and Carrick plays similar football to McKenna, so would hopefully be a like for like replacement for our star striker. Still feels surreal that we’re putting £20m bids for players, when three years ago, we were happy with Stephen Ward on a free!
3

Woolfenthen added 18:01 - Dec 16 I'd imagine any deal would include The Fridge going the other way
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Blue_badge added 18:07 - Dec 16 Felipe R-G would be a signing for the "production line" rather than this year's squad methinks. Important to do but most keen for Premisership ready reinforcements - confident that LL or whoever KM and MA bring in will be that.
2

ThaiBlue added 18:16 - Dec 16 Get him in ,no disrespect but Al Hamadi does not look premier class to me.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 18:18 - Dec 16 Any signings in January will need to be ready to rock, able to have an instant impact, and fit the KmcK profile. This dude is a good candidate.
0

Linkboy13 added 18:21 - Dec 16 I would be reluctant to go for championship players especially at 20 million pounds such is the massive gap in class. Delap has done well but others have struggled. Far better value for money on the continent or fringe Premier league.
13

Suffolkboy added 18:38 - Dec 16 Yep! Support needed on the pitch but seems certain KM and Co will have already mapped out their approaches — and we can be sure cards will be close to the chest for now ! In MA and K M we can place trust! COYB
6

SpiritOfJohn added 18:50 - Dec 16 This agent is very disrespectful to Boro. I like the player, but he is under contract until at least 2027, so the agent should keep his mouth shut.
17

MickMillsTash added 18:56 - Dec 16 Ashton does not seem to get involved in too many deals where there is lots of speculation, and this agent is opening his mouth again. I'm sure we've got some deals lined up, Kieran knows exactly what we need Last year we got Sarmiento and Moore and both really helped out, and the year before Luongo, Hirst, Broadhead and Clarke- and Boom!!! lets hope we can repeat in 24/25- sense it may be trickier

5

johnwarksshorts added 19:08 - Dec 16 Town will gave already identified the January targets. Whether LL is among them remains to be seen. We definitely need another striker, a right sided defender as cover for Axel and a right winger.
7

Leejames99 added 19:17 - Dec 16 Almiron to do medical while in town at the weekend would be a very real possibility, Trippier for right back also would be smart, but as predicted we will go for more top Championship players who fit the mould if we do jeed a yo yo season. Hopefully Szmodicks fit to start in centre on Saturday. Haji from Coventry also be good, whoever we go for McK and Ashton I'm sure already have in place to get them in and interpreted in first week of window. COYB

1

Edmundo added 20:22 - Dec 16 Don't like this agagent's style. As already said, fringe Prem woul be 1st choice, as there's no bedding-in time. Definitely a few out of the 25 squads we could loan or get on short contracts if needs be (like we did with Tuanzebee)
1

gkroon89 added 21:36 - Dec 16 20 million for a second striker seems a lot. Be interesting to see what route we go down. Would be surprised after Delap has proven more than worthy. Still options would be good upfront. RB is an issue also - loan position here is probably the best option. Originally thought we were not strong enough in midfield lately, but Taylor has impressed the last couple of games for me.

4

churchmans added 22:35 - Dec 16 20million!!! 5mill more than what we paid for delap? Seems when a prem club comes calling they have to cough up a massive amount! Don't know if he is prolific or not
0

Carberry added 08:29 - Dec 17 I'd like to see us bring in quality from abroad, which unlike Brighton for instance, we don't appear able to do. Our scouting and recruitment seems limited to domestic players and foreign ones already identified by other Premier League clubs. Whoever comes needs to hit the ground running, not a case for development.
2

Blue_In_Boston added 08:31 - Dec 17 Would be a good signing, but West Ham sniffing around could scupper the deal or create a bidding war. £20 million, as others point out, is a lot of money but his age does means sell on value.
-1

Len_Brennan added 08:45 - Dec 17 My feeling at the time was that we went for him very late in the day, after trying to stay in for an injured Broja, for £10m more, in preference; so it was a 'we need to get a robust centre forward in the door to get us to the next window, especially in case of injury to Hirst and Delap' attempted signing. Now that we have had all the planning time since September, to try & recruit our new #1 target, to help us retain our Premier League status, would he be likely to be that player? Maybe, perhaps not. We know that Hirst has been susceptible to injuries, & not just strains & knocks, while Delap has overperformed in a physically intense role, in his first full (half) season in men's football. He, like anyone would, is likely to have a dip & perhaps even struggle in the second half of the season. They need help, & while Ali has undeniably done well in recent games, he is not a starter; he is effective with his hustling & direct running when on fresh in the last 20 minutes against tiring defenders. I still belive a loan spell in the Championship is the best option for him post Christmas. And so, that is why I am suggesting that we will repeat last January's feat, and bring in 2 new centre forwards in the January window, one of which could be on loan. And that brings me back to Latte Lathe, because he could certainly be one of two coming in, and because of the previous contact, it might be an easier (quicker) transfer to complete, which would certainly be a bonus as we could do with someone in for the Fulham game on 5 January!!

0

BerksBlue15 added 09:13 - Dec 17 this to me won't be the difference between staying up or not. when we missed out on Broja everyone was up in arms and he's played just twice and not scored all season. equally I don't think missing out on this guy has been that big a problem (despite our lack of frontman options). Granted though, if Delap is injured long term, certainly before Hirst is back (and even then there's questions if he can lead the line on his own in the Prem) then we're a little stuck, so definitely need a solid reinforcement. Sell the flops Jack Clarke and Muric, recoup anything we can for the pair of them, and invest it in a top but realistic forward.

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Rozeeboy74 added 09:42 - Dec 17 2 ways to think of it, decent Champ striker on form and scoring (but well over priced) who may not make the grade, or Prem experience but has not played much this season? Generally we have found good talent in the lower leagues, and certainly agree about looking overseas. it will give away my generation if I mention we have usually done well finding Dutch talent.
1

Alphawhiskey added 10:36 - Dec 17 Great player, not sure about the 20mil though. I think we are also building a squad that will compete highly 'IF' we were to go down.. Deep down I believe Ashton and co have a long term plan and have factored in many things we go down. Either way we are building something truly great here. A long way from the likes of Lincoln at home etc.... COYB
0

Marinersnose added 10:41 - Dec 17 He was excellent last season but this season he looks off the pace and that’s in the Championship. Can he make the step up maybe in time but surely we need a proven PL striker on loan who can hit the ground running. Callum Wilson is not playing matches regularly and is a top finisher who works hard. I’m sure KMK will make the right decision but ELL maybe more a long term prospect but that’s too much money

0

Lightningboy added 10:55 - Dec 17 Shame Hirst is so injury prone...i'm hoping we'll play Szmodics up front this weekend,knows where the back of the net is,no-brainer for me.
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ArnieM added 12:08 - Dec 17 This deal was practically done and dusted in August. The only reason it didn’t go ahead I understand, was because Boro had no time to get in a replacement at the 11th hour. So the paperwork is by and large all done I’d think. I appreciate his agent is keen to get this over the line now, and is active taking it up.
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tractorboybig added 12:54 - Dec 17 lets hope its not us , we brought enough average championship players in the close season and thats where we are heading
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Ipswichbusiness added 14:04 - Dec 17 When the agent says, “expecting something to happen” I suspect that he really means, “hoping that a big pay day will happen”.
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