Middlesbrough have finally unveiled their new striker, and ninth summer signing, Emmanuel Latte Lath from Italian side Atalanta.
The Ivorian front man is a permanent arrival, agreeing a four-year deal, with the option to extend for a fifth.
It will be a welcome relief for Boro fans, who have called for reinforcements in attack following the departures of loan player Cameron Archer (who returned to his parent club) and talisman Chuba Akpom, who appears to be rubber stamping a deal to join Dutch giants Ajax.
Latte-Lath’s fee is undisclosed, with the move subject to international clearance. He joins the Championship club off the back of a successful loan period with Swiss Super League side St Gallen, where he scored 16 goals in 34 games, and he will hope to replicate that kind of scoring record in England.
Fans may be interested to learn that he picks up the number 30, not the coveted number 9 jersey. Latte Lath – as many will have seen via YouTube snippets – may well be utilised in the number ten role, with a more orthadox number nine targeted in the loan market.
He is different in terms of his footballing approach, but could act as more of a replacement for Akpom, as opposed to Cameron Archer. That said, we know that, if Carrick thinks he can perform in a different role, he will have no qualms tweaking his position.
Latte-Lath is explosive and agile
To help us understand what he will bring to Boro, we spoke to a Swiss football expert, who offered some insight into the kind of talent we can look forward to seeing this season and beyond.
Emmanuel Staub is a Swiss football writer, who also founded the Swiss football platform Bolzplazz. Speaking to me about the attributes of the Ivorian, and where he may struggle, he began, “He is not an orthadox nine at all.
“He is not very tall, but he is extremely explosive and agile. A player who is incredibly fast, even with the ball at his feet, Latte Lath loves to dribble and take on his opponents.”
Pace is something that Middlesbrough have lacked a little in central areas, so that will be a source of great excitement for the Riverside faithful to hear. Staub also told me that Latte Lath, “can attack from deep, collecting balls from midfield and driving into the box. A player who can definitely score, but also create.
“He is surprisingly strong in the air, won a lot of aerial duels last season thanks to excellent timing and solid jumping power.” Sound familiar?
All of that bodes well for Middlesbrough. But there was a caveat with the positive take on Boro’s new boy. The Swiss football writer did point out that there were occasions where the striker “could have been more clinical last season.”
Despite that small concern, he insisted that Latte Lath is a player who is “intriguing, was loved by the St Gallen fans” and is a player who is capable of “spectacular moments.”