Failed £3.5m Middlesbrough move has striker saying sorry as David Strelec joins instead

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Having struggled to replace the goals of Emmanuel Latte Lath following his January move to America, the prospect of David Strelec battling an in-form Tommy Conway is an exciting one indeed for Middlesbrough fans.

Despite the lofty expectations surrounding his £6.5 million arrival from Slovan Bratislava, Strelec’s first task will be to oust Tommy Conway from Rob Edwards’ in-form team.

Easier said than done, maybe.

Conway followed up his first of the season in the 2-1 win at Norwich with the decisive strike at home to crisis-hit Sheffield United before the international break. But if David Strelec’s stunning finish against Germany on Thursday night is anything to go by, the deadline day arrival won’t have to wait long to make his mark.

Kaly Sene, another summer addition, made a very positive first impression himself off the bench against the Blades.

So, with Conway, Strelec and Sene all battling for a starting spot, Middlesbrough’s failure to seal the signing of FC Metz and Senegal forward Cheikh Sabaly is hardly shaping up to be something those at Riverside look back on with regret.

Metz director Frederic Arpinon explains why Middlesbrough bid for Cheikh Sabaly failed

Before Middlesbrough reached an agreement to sign Kaly Sene from Swiss outfit Lausanne Sport, and before Strelec became their most expensive acquisition since George Saville in 2018, they saw a couple of ‘strong bids’ rejected by Ligue 1 newcomers Metz, per the Northern Echo.

Sabaly fired Metz to promotion with 15 goals and four assists last season. He also scored the decisive third as Senegal became the first African nation ever to beat England back in June.

Cheikh Sabaly went on strike in France last month in an attempt to force through a transfer to one of the Championship’s promotion-chasing sides. But, as sporting director Frederic Arpinon tells France Bleu, the diminutive 26-year-old has returned to the fold with his tail between his legs after issuing an apology to the club and his teammates.

“A very complicated and very difficult period,” Arpinon begins. “The case is closed and the player has apologised.”

Metz reportedly wanted £3.5 million for Sabaly. While the size of Middlesbrough’s bids have not been disclosed, Arpinon reveals that they were deemed ‘insufficient’ at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.

“It’s true that we would have liked to do more, particularly on the sale of striker Idrissa Gueye to Udinese. We also refused offers that were insufficient in our eyes for [Sadibou] Sane and Sabaly,” the director explains.

“But, in the end, the president is happy with what we achieved in terms of sales.”

In Sabaly’s place, though, comes one of the hottest forwards in Europe, and a long-term transfer target.

Boro newbie David Strelec scored a ‘world-class’ goal when Slovakia beat Germany

David Strelec’s father opened up on Middlesbrough’s interest a few weeks before the transfer finally went through. The Slovakia sensation left a very good impression on his new fans, too, when giving Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger the runaround during a famous 2-0 victory in midweek.

Strelec produced a ‘world-class’ finish to see off Germany. His 35th for club and country since the beginning of last season.

“I’m really excited to be here. I was sold by the club’s vision and then seeing the facilities that the club has here,” smiles Strelec, the one-time Celtic target partly convinced to make the plunge by Middlesbrough’s explosive form under Edwards.

“Then seeing that club already has 12 points from a possible 12… I’m very much looking forward to getting started.

“It’s probably been about nine months now [since I found out Boro wanted me]. It started in January and now it is finally done, I am very happy. The conversations we had were long. There has been a lot of speculation, but I always wanted to come here, and I am very happy I am finally here and I can play here for Boro.

“I am a striker, so the expectation of me is to score goals and try and also provide assists. That’s my job but I’ve also been told about the link-up play and the pressing and stuff like this.”