Middlesbrough's £6.5m transfer splash is misfiring - Celtic may feel they've dodged a bullet | OneFootball

David Strelec hasn't hit the ground running at the Riverside Stadium following his big-money move to Teesside in the summer.

Middlesbrough won their long-fought battle with Celtic to sign Slovakian international David Strelec for £6.5m this summer, but the striker hasn't hit the ground running on Teesside.

In a summer of change at the Riverside Stadium, Boro's hierarchy decided to really go for it in the transfer market.

With Michael Carrick out and Rob Edwards in, funds that they'd been able to save up thanks to recent sales of players such as Finn Azaz, Rav van den Berg, Josh Coburn, Emmanuel Latte Lath, Isaiah Jones and Morgan Rogers among others, were largely let loose.

Significant fees were spent on the likes of Adilson Malanda, Sontje Hansen, Abdoulaye Kante, Alfie Jones and Callum Brittain, but Middlesbrough's big blockbuster signing of the summer window that sent a clear statement of intent to the rest of the Championship was the £6.5m plus £2m in potential add-ons acquisition of Slovan Bratislava hitman, Strelec.

David Strelec enduring tough start to life as a Middlesbrough player - Celtic won't mind at all

It brought an end to a transfer saga that had been rumbling on since last January, with Middlesbrough and Celtic both heavily linked with his signature.

The Glaswegian giants were once again strongly touted with a move for the 24-year-old this summer, but it was Boro who finally got a deal over the line, much to the delight of Teessiders everywhere.

Early signs of a big debut season ahead were positive too, as in only his second appearance for his new club, Strelec bagged his first Boro goal in a 2-1 win over West Brom back in mid-September.

It was a smart one too, as he flashed that predatory instinct to anticipate the flick-on from a long-throw, before getting goalside of his defender and placing a side-footed volley into the back of the Albion net.

He's a full Slovakian international who has an assist vs England in the 2024 European Championship Round of 16 game on his CV, and has Champions League goalscoring pedigree from his time with Slovan; he's clearly a very talented forward.

Since that West Brom goal, however, Strelec has gone eight games without a goal, and has yet to play more than 72 minutes in any Championship game of football for Middlesbrough this season.

His most recent showing vs Leicester City was perhaps his poorest in red and white colours so far too.

As per FotMob, Boro's number 13 completed just 50 per cent of his passes, creating zero chances, registered one shot on goal, took just two touches in the opposition box, made just one pass into the final third, and completed no dribbles.

Despite some nice pieces of link-up play here and there, Strelec really struggled to hold the ball up and provide an outlet for his team, whilst also he also found himself running and turning into trouble on numerous occasions, and just had all the hallmarks of a player that hasn't yet been able to match the pace and intensity of Championship football.

Thankfully for Middlesbrough, and perhaps providing another sign that they are a good team, Edwards' side were able to rescue something from that Leicester game.

Despite dominating for long periods of the match, controlling possession and registering 17 shots on goal compared to Leicester's six, it was the Foxes who were seconds away from a huge and much-needed three points for Marti Cifuentes men.

However, a hopeful 96th-minute Callum Brittain cross from deep on the right flank sailed its way towards the far side of the six-yard box, where it was met by the soaring head of Luke Ayling, to score his first ever goal for Middlesbrough since first joining the club back in January of last year.

It was a great moment for Middlesbrough, and especially those travelling Teessiders in the away end, and is a point that will perhaps feel like three for Edwards and his players.

However, once the euphoria of the last-minute equaliser fades, a harsh and frustrating reality will emerge once again for the Boro boss, and that is that his forward line is just not delivering the goods at this moment in time.

In particular his strikers, with Tommy Conway now without a goal in 10 Championship games, Strelec goalless in eight, and Kaly Sene in seven respectively.

So long as this continues, Middlesbrough will continue to not play complimentary football, as in defence, Boro's rearguard are one of the most uncharitable and well-organised units in the division.

That's a real change from the Teesside norm too, as especially during the Carrick era, it was Boro's attack that did most of the heavy lifting, with his reign marked by consistent defensive issues.

But what does Edwards do in this situation when none of his centre-forwards are finding the net? Is it a case of trying to find the right combination? Which one(s) does he persist with and who may he take out of the spotlight? Could the fit again Riley McGree provide a catalyst for better service?

There's so many questions surrounding this attack force that need answering, and problems that evidently need solving.

Strelec was brought in the hope that Boro wouldn't have such a conundrum, but as of right now, his performances and lack of production is only serving to confuse the situation even further.