6 David Strelec upgrades Middlesbrough must eye ft Man City player | OneFootball

Middlesbrough could be on the lookout for a new attacker in January as David Strelec continues to struggle at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough have had a positive start to the season under Kim Hellberg as they look to win promotion to the Premier League.

The Teesside outfit had a hectic end to the previous campaign, which was dominated by Spygate, but, despite their play-off reprieve, Boro ultimately lost to Hull at Wembley.

That was a major setback for Boro, but it’s clear they have taken huge strides forward under Hellberg, and a productive transfer window means many observers see the team as genuine contenders for automatic promotion.

David Strelec continues to struggle at Middlesbrough

With 15 points from eight games, it’s difficult to be too critical of Middlesbrough, but one concern at this early stage would be that they’re too reliant on Will Lankshear.

The summer signing has scored six of Boro’s 16 goals, and whilst they will be delighted by his return, the former Spurs man may not continue finding the net at this rate.

Therefore, Hellberg will be hoping others step up, but David Strelec has struggled at the Riverside Stadium since his arrival from Slovan Bratislava.

The Slovakian international managed eight goals last season, and it had been suggested he could leave for PAOK in the summer, although a move didn’t materialise.

Nevertheless, he will be at the club until January at least, although it would be no surprise if Boro tried to sign an upgrade in the next window. With that in mind, we look at SIX players that they should target…

Claudio Braga

We know that Hellberg plays in a specific style, so bringing in a forward with technical ability would make sense, and Braga certainly falls into that category.

He enjoyed a remarkable first season in Scottish football as Hearts just missed out on the title, and he remains a key player for the Edinburgh side.

At 26, Braga is at his peak, so you would expect him to hit the ground running, and his all-round game, including his willingness to press from the front, means he could flourish in this attacking Middlesbrough team.

Daniel Jebbison

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You could make an argument that Boro need a different type of profile up top, and Jebbison would provide that.

The Bournemouth striker is mobile, physical and capable of stretching the game and bringing others into play with his ability to hold the ball up.

Jebbison is featuring off the bench for Bournemouth, but it would be no shock if they added a new forward in January, which would allow him to leave on loan, and he could be just what Boro need to be able to mix it up, and it could be the perfect platform for the 23-year-old to really breakout and show why he has been highly-rated in the past.

Ellis Simms

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Simms is another proven option at this level, and he could become available if he doesn’t get the game time he wants at Coventry in the next few months.

Again, Simms has the physical profile to bring something different to Middlesbrough, which may be what Hellberg needs if his side are struggling to break down deep defensive lines.

It’s an added bonus that Simms has won promotion from this level in the past, so that will also help the dressing room as Boro look to get over the line this season.

Bim Pepple

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The Plymouth striker is emerging as one of the top players in League One, and he ticks a lot of boxes for Hellberg with his energy, pace and direct style.

There’s no denying the 23-year-old is raw, but he has plenty of attributes that many believe will take him to a very high level in the future, and he is another that could benefit from Hellberg’s coaching methods and his attacking setup.

Argyle would be desperate to keep hold of their star man as they chase promotion, but a deal could be possible if Boro stump up the cash, and Pepple could be a shrewd long-term signing for the club.

Kristian Lien

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Hellberg has extensive knowledge of Sweden, and he will no doubt be aware of Djurgaden striker Kristian Lien, who is the top scorer in the Allsvenkan this season with 15 goals in 22 games, and he has also registered four assists.

That shows what sort of player he is, and Lien could easily share the goalscoring responsibility with Lankshear during the final months of the campaign.

Of course, the step-up to the Championship would make this a risk, but Lien is a player with a lot of potential, and he seems ready for the next move in his career, and he could kick-on at Middlesbrough.

Floyd Samba

The 17-year-old is regarded as a top talent at Man City, and he justified that tag with a brilliant performance, and two goals, in the recent EFL Cup win over Norwich.

That was Samba at his best, as he showed electric pace, he was bright, inventive and always looking to take risks, whilst he took his goals very well.

Incredibly, that was his first game as a striker, as he has played in midfield throughout his time with the academy, but Samba, who is the son of former Blackburn defender Chris, is clearly capable further up the pitch.

The fact he was a midfielder also means he should be able to link play the way Hellberg wants, and even though it would be a gamble to go for a teenager that has yet to prove himself in the professional game, it could be one worth taking for Boro as Samba may bring unpredictability to the attack.