Leeds United have been given a major boost in their pursuit of Middlesbrough striker Britt Assombalonga, according to the Northern Echo.
The regional newspaper claim Boro are willing to listen to offers for their £15million record signing less than a year after his transfer from Nottingham Forest.
The Echo report the forward involved in a training ground incident while in pre-season training in Austria which has cast his future on Teesside into doubt.
It is said a number of Championship clubs have made enquiries about signing Assombalonga this summer and Leeds are the latest “to throw their hat into the ring”.
Good move for Leeds?
Yes. United are running out of time to sign a proven goalscorer given that the new campaign is less than a month away and the window for permanent signings shuts on 9 August. Assombalonga fits the bill as a striker capable of regularly finding the net in England’s second tier. He has scored 45 goals from 113 Championship appearances, including 15 in 44 matches last season, and has consistently scored goals throughout his senior career. Aged 25, the DR Congo international is entering his peak years and would be a sound signing by Leeds, whose search for a forward is starting to reach the desperate stage.
This is Futbol verdict: 7/10
Likely to happen?
All the signs are pointing to this deal being a real possibility. Leeds’ pursuits of Abel Hernandez and Matej Vydra have come to nothing amid reports they are unwilling to meet their wage demands, and the club have cleared space for at least two striker signings by loaning out Jay-Roy Grot and Mallik Wilks and reportedly placing Caleb Ekuban up for sale. With Boro now seemingly ready to cash in on Assombalonga, a potential deal is firmly on the cards.
This is Futbol verdict: 5/10