Record-breaking Middlesbrough transfer deal is paying off - They've "hit the jackpot at the moment" | OneFootball

Emmanuel Latte-Lath's record-breaking transfer from Middlesbrough to Atlanta United hasn't gone according to plan just yet

Middlesbrough have not shied away from sanctioning significant player sales in recent times, with shrewd and savvy recruitment from the Teessiders eventually leaving them susceptible to losing prized assets.

During the summer transfer window, which remains an excitingly uplifting one at the Riverside Stadium, Boro cashed in on both Finn Azaz and Rav van den Berg, with the duo joining Southampton and Koln respectively for eight-figure fees.

Over the last few years, the likes of Chuba Akpom, Djed Spence and Marcus Tavernier have also been sold in deals which each netted Middlesbrough considerable sums, but none more so that the record-breaking outlay received for the services of star striker Emmanuel Latte Lath back in January.

The Ivorian moved to Middlesbrough in the summer of 2023 from Italian outfit Atalanta, with his stock high following a 16-goal haul while out on loan in Switzerland with St. Gallen. Latte Lath enjoyed a productive debut campaign on Teesside by returning 16 Championship goals from 30 appearances and just 23 starts, working out to a hugely-impressive return of 0.69 strikes per 90 minutes.

His future had been uncertain heading into the 2024/25 campaign and he was not quite as prolific, but still managed to return an excellent goals to minutes ratio.

By the mid-way point of the season, Latte Lath had found the back of the net on 11 occassions at a rate of 0.56 goals per 90 minutes in 29 Championship matches, 20 of which were starts.

Latte Lath had never been far away from speculation, however, with those sorts of numbers always bound to earn inevitable attention, and he ultimately moved on to Atlanta United for a £22.5 million fee, which represented both an MLS-record figure and the highest outlay Middlesbrough have ever received for a player.

Middlesbrough suffered short-term Emmanuel Latte Lath loss but transfer call is now an inspired one

The decision to sell the 26-year-old was, of course, a contentious one, with the sale of the star striker having been sanctioned when Middlesbrough were competing for a top-six finish.

They would fall short of that, which consequentially lost Michael Carrick his job, but in spite of the short-term ramifications, there is still a school of thought that Middlesbrough hit the jackpot by selling Latte Lath.

Initially, mind you, it did not look that way. Big things were naturally expected of Latte Lath considering the outlay and the level of his performances in the Championship — a division of a higher overall standard than the MLS, many would argue — and he set out about delivering on the expectation by netting a debut brace in a 3-2 victory over Montreal before scoring consecutively against Lionel Messi and co at Inter Miami, Cincinnati and New York City to return five goals from his first six games. He has, however, only managed a further two since.

From the end of March, Latte Lath would wait until mid-July before scoring again in a draw away at Toronto, and he has not found the back of the net since scoring in his side's 3-2 home defeat against Charlotte FC that same month. The four-cap Ivory Coast international, widely tipped to be among the most potent attackers in the US domestic game, has scored just seven goals from 25 league outings for Atlanta, who may be ruing their decision to splash the cash on his signature.

Middlesbrough, mind you, might just have different feelings about the sale, which threatened to backfire almost immediately but is now representing better business by the day.

Boro significantly strengthened their striking options in the summer by acquiring Kaly Sene and the highly-rated David Strelec, with the latter in particular primed to have a big impact in the North East after arriving with a strong record from Slovan Bratislava.

Should Sene and Strelec perform according to expectation for Rob Edwards' side, who themselves may be more competitive this year without the presence of Latte Lath, then Middlesbrough's sense of hitting the jackpot could just be heightened.

Middlesbrough verdict offered on Emmanuel Latte Lath sale and Atlanta United struggles

The view that Middlesbrough have played something of a blinder - with the benefit of hindsight, of course - by selling Latte Lath is shared among the Riverside faithful, who have been buoyed by a hugely-promising summer window financially aided by his sale earlier this year.

Football League World's Middlesbrough fan pundit, Liam Day, also believes that his side have, at this moment in time, "hit the jackpot".

Liam, however, does feel that Latte Lath will come good in time, citing Atlanta's struggles as a potential reason behind his poor form infront of goal.

"I think he proved in his time with us that he's clearly a quality player," Liam told FLW.

"I can't see the reasons why he's failing over there. The Championship is very much a better standard league, and from what I've seen he should really do better than what he is doing.

"I've seen from the fans that the manager is not a big hit over there, it doesn't seem like they're doing too well. I don't know if that has something to do with it, he's clearly a better player, but at the moment you've got to say that we did very well to sell him for as much as we did.

"It was one of the club's biggest sales and it allowed us to progress a lot this summer, so I'd definitely say that we've hit the jackpot at the moment. I still think he will come good, it took him a while to settle with us so it might happen there as well."