Middlesbrough and Burnley face crucial issue in Emmanuel Latte Lath transfer | OneFootball

Emmanuel Latte Lath won't be able to return to the Championship this summer due to visa issues

Middlesbrough and Burnley will be battling with each other at the top of the Championship this season, but their race to bring in a former Boro striker has seemingly run its course.

The Clarets are heading into the new campaign with Zian Flemming on their books, and with 11 goals in 29 Premier League games last season, plus 12 goals the year before to help them return to the top flight, those at Turf Moor will be hoping the Dutchman stays put.

Nevertheless, Nicky Hayen's side expressed their interest in Atlanta United striker Emmanuel Latte Lath, making a loan-to-buy bid last week, per Alan Nixon's report.

With the possibility of the 27-year-old moving back to the Championship, where he scored 27 times in 59 outings at Middlesbrough, Kim Hellberg's side have, understandably, been linked, too.

However, both are set to miss out, as visa issues have scuppered their attempts to bring the former Boro striker in this summer.

Why Emmanuel Latte Lath is angling for a move away from DC United

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Just 18 months ago, Latte Lath broke the MLS' record transfer fee and simultaneously became Middlesbrough's record sale when he moved from the Riverside to sign for Atlanta United for £22.5 million.

The former Atalanta frontman was one of the second-tier's top strikers in the season-and-a-half he spent at Boro, scoring 16 in 30 in his first campaign and 11 in 29 throughout the first half of the 2024/25 term.

It hasn't worked out for him at all across the Atlantic, though. Despite the hefty fee, Latte Lath couldn't stop Atalanta from finishing second-bottom in the MLS Eastern Conference, with just five wins all year. Halfway through the 2026 term, they sit bottom, with three wins in 17.

The Ivorian frontman netted just seven times in 30 games in his debut campaign, and has found the back of the net just twice this year, becoming unfavoured by Gerardo Martino as the season has gone on.

Middlesbrough and Burnley face visa setback in Emmanuel Latte Lath pursuit

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A switch back to Europe has been explored for Latte Lath, as he searches for a way to recapture some of the form he showed at Middlesbrough that made him worth £22.5 million back in February 2025.

Unfortunately, according to the Daily Mail, neither Boro nor Burnley will be able to secure a signing, though, due to visa problems.

The report states that Kim Hellberg's side tried for an initial loan to bring the 27-year-old back to the Riverside, but he doesn't have enough points to earn a UK visa. Instead, he's now set to move to Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin.

Die Eisernen are hoping that Latte Lath can help propel them back towards the European places in the German top flight. They qualified for the Champions League in 2022/23, but in the three years since, have finished no higher than 11th.

Middlesbrough and Burnley should be happy to make do with their current striker options next season

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Middlesbrough have already invested heavily in their frontline this summer, spending £4 million plus add-ons on Kyle Joseph, and £10 million plus add-ons on Will Lankshear, which could break their record signing.

Those two, plus the likes of Tommy Conway, David Srelec and Morgan Whittaker, should ensure that Kim Hellberg has a dangerous attack next season, and a move for Latte Lath could have been seen as pure sentiment, rather than one which improves their current options.

Meanwhile, Burnley will have hope that they can convince Flemming to stay at Turf Moor this summer, and many feel that this stumbling block in a Latte Lath chase should mean that keeping him will be even more vital.