Middlesbrough are making their first transfer moves of the summer as Rob Edwards attempts to assemble a squad capable of returning to promotion contention next season.
Boro announced the acquisition of Hull City centre-back Alfie Jones last week, in a deal reportedly for £3 million.
Boro are allegedly close to finalizing a deal to sign Troyes midfielder Abdoulaye Kante, which would be Edwards’ second signing as Middlesbrough’s head coach.
Middlesbrough has had a tough summer in terms of transfer activity, but there is renewed optimism that the club can and will strengthen significantly before the September 1 deadline.
But is there a player out there who could join at the Riverside Stadium and completely change the trajectory of the football club, giving them a significant boost in their promotion chances?
“Exactly what we need”: Middlesbrough encouraged to complete dream Pavel Sulc signs
We asked our Middlesbrough fan commentator, Liam Day, ‘Name one player you’d definitely adore your club to sign between now and the September 1 transfer deadline, and why.’
Liam stated, “The player I’d like to sign as my dream signing would be Pavel Sulc.
“We were linked to him earlier this summer, and he appears to be a perfect match for Rob Edwards’ system.
“He had 15 goals and nine assists in the Czech league; those are ridiculous stats no matter what league you play in, and with the way we’ve been playing in pre-season friendlies, the number 10s are the most important players.”
| Sulc’s Viktoria Plzen career stats (all comps) – per FotMob | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 24/25 | 54 | 20 | 14 |
| 23/24 | 49 | 22 | 6 |
| 21/22 | 35 | 3 | 1 |
| 20/21 | 25 | 1 | 5 |
“Morgan Whittaker has shone. He’s been looking great, and I’m excited to watch how he progresses this season.
Delano Burgzorg has been playing. He’s been caught offside several times, and while he fits the system somewhat, I see Pavel Sulc as an absolute dangerman in this league.
“He’d pose a big threat. Obviously, he can score goals, but he also assists. It’s just what we need. We need someone who can make runs and be a consistent danger, and I believe he can provide that.”
Sulc may be an excellent Swiss Army Knife player for Rob Edwards to add to his Middlesbrough roster
A report in The Mirror in early July indicated Middlesbrough’s interest in Sulc. However, it does not appear to be a straightforward transaction for Boro to complete.
That’s because Premier League side Bournemouth, as well as Serie A giants Lazio, are said to be interested in the 24-year-old, with interest also coming from Turkey and Germany.
Boro appear to have some strong competition for his signing, but crucially for those clubs pursuing a deal, the Czech international is in the final year of his contract, with Plzen reportedly expecting a sell before the end of the transfer window.
If Middlesbrough can move swiftly and secure his services – which will almost certainly cost them a large transfer fee – Edwards might have a player who is a step above at Championship level and would be ideal for his system.
Sulc can play anywhere in the forward line, thus he could be used in a range of positions, from centre-forward to central midfield, and could form a lethal goal-scoring and chance-creating duo with Finn Azaz.
Or Boro may see him as the ideal strike partner for Tommy Conway, allowing Azaz, McGree, Hackney, and Morris to compete for midfield minutes.
Regardless, Sulc appears to be a supremely skilled player based on his numbers in Czech football and the type of clubs interested in him, and signing him would undoubtedly signify a big coup for Middlesbrough.
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