Middlesbrough 'working on' Bundesliga deal as target opens up on future
The latest transfer talk from the Riverside Stadium as Middlesbrough look to add to their squad before the end of the January transfer window.
Middlesbrough are reportedly working on a deal to boost their attacking options with the signing of a Bundesliga striker.
It has been a busy period for Boro after they completed a loan deal for Brighton and Hove Albion winger Jeremy Sarmiento after wrapping up permanent deals for Aston Villa youngster Finley Munroe and highly-rated Chelsea attacking midfielder Leo Castledine. There have also been outgoing deals with Absoulaye Kante and Delano Burgzorg making respective loan moves to Saint-Etienne and Bristol City respectively and Lukas Engel was sold to MLS side Real Salt Lake City.
However, Football Insider have now reported Boro are focusing their attention on securing at least one new attacking option before Monday’s 7pm deadline and have suggested they are ‘working on a deal’ to land Hamburg forward Ransford Konigsdorffer. The six-times capped Ghana international joined the Bundesliga side from Dynamo Dresden during the summer of 2022 and has scored 29 goals in 123 appearances during that time.
Konigsdorffer is now in the final six months of his current deal and the report states Boro feel they ‘might be able to land the versatile forward on a cut-price deal’. The 24-year-old’s ability to play across the forward line means he is viewed as a ‘valuable asset’ by the Boro hierarchy and has caught the eye for Hamburg as they battle against relegation from the top flight of German football.
Boro and Coventry target opens up on future
Middlesbrough and Championship promotion rivals Coventry City have both been linked with a move for Mali international Lassine Sinayoko in recent weeks. The 26-year-old has scored six goals and provided two assists in 18 games for Ligue 1 side Auxerre and caught the eye at the recent African Cup of Nations as he scored three goals in five appearances to help Mali reach the quarter-final before they fell to a 1-0 defeat against eventual winners Senegal.
However, the Championship duo were dealt a major blow last week when the powerful striker agreed to extend his contract with Auxerre as they battle against relegation. Sinayoko has explained his decision to commit to the club and admitted he couldn’t leave them in such a perilous situation - but stopped short of ruling out a move away at some point in the future.
“First of all, the fact that we are in this position [17th in Ligue 1],” Sinayoko told L’yonne Republicaine. “I didn't want to leave like a thief, I wanted to give back to Auxerre everything it has given me, and I knew that by extending my contract, I could both help the club and help myself because it's a security. I wouldn't say it's impossible [to leave on a free], but it's not what I want, especially with our position in the table and the club not doing well. In this context, it was too complicated for me to leave like that.”
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