Boro edge closer to agreeing sale of 27-year-old striker
According to The Telegraph, Middlesbrough FC are willing to let 27-year-old Danish striker leave in the January transfer window.
Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis is ready to part ways with £10m striker Martin Braithwaite next month, with La Liga side Leganes as the possible destination for the striker.
The departure, as reported by The Telegraph, will initially be on loan with an option to make it permanent at the end of the season.
The Danish International was reportedly on the verge of leaving Boro in the summer, with the likes of Leganes, Alaves, and Girona – in addition to Championship side Swansea City – interested in the forward.
The likely exit of the striker would shave £50,000 a week off the wage bill of Middlesbrough, hence giving the Championship side the chance to make way for new signings.
However, reports claim that it wasn’t his high wage bill which forced Tony Pulis to allow the striker to leave Boro midway through the season.
Instead, as reported by the Telegraph, it was the attitude of the Danish forward which convinced his manager to let him go. Pulis made his feelings clear after seeing his team defeated by Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.
"The supporters of this club, it's a big club, expect and demand a certain level. If the players are not delivering that then the people in the stands have the right to criticise."
“As a player, person you have to prove you are good enough to play for this club and accept criticism at times."
Following Boro's 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town, Pulis added that "there’s players here that joined last year who, for whatever reason, don’t enjoy being at the football club or being in the area. I find that extraordinary, for them to sign long contracts and then not be happy with the place and everything else."
Braithwaite started the season in fine form – scoring three goals in his first three appearances. Since then, however, he has been unable to find the back of the net.
Incoming transfers imminent for Boro
As reported on Friday, Boro look set to bolster their ranks with the arrival of Rajiv van la Parra from Premier League side Huddersfield Town in the next few days.
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It is reported that la Parra has already passed a medical at Boro and was seen alongside Steve Gibson in the stands at the Riverside Stadium today. The announcement is likely to be once the January Transfer Window opens next Tuesday.
