MLS side agree fee to break transfer record and sign EFL striker linked with West Ham
Today at 11:18 AM
Atlanta United are set to break the Major League Soccer [MLS] transfer record to bring an EFL striker to the club.
talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs and CBS’ Tom Bogert report that the US side’s bid worth $20million (£16.4million) for Midlesbrough star Emmanuel Latte Lath has been verbally accepted.
The offer is worth $18million plus $2million in potential add-ons.
That fee would break the existing MLS record transfer fee which was also set by Atlanta in 2022 when they signed Thiago Almada from Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield for $16 million.
Middlesbrough have declined to comment on the speculation, but the forward’s representatives are now talking to Atlanta regarding personal terms.
And they are looking to make it a double north east swoop, with a move to bring Miguel Almiron back to the club.
The Newcastle United winger joined the Magpies in January 2019 from Atlanta for a club-record £21 million.
But after six years on Tyneside, a deal worth around an initial £8 million, plus add-ons is close to being agreed.
So, if all goes to plan for Atlanta, Almiron will be joined by Latte Lath.
Latte Lath is currently among the top scorers in the Championship having netted 10 goals in 26 games for Michael Carrick‘s team.
It comes after a turbulent transfer deadline day in the summer in which the 26-year-old was the subject of intense interest in his future.
Latte Lath was the subject of a £20million deadline day move from newly-promoted Ipswich Town, an offer that was turned down by the Teessiders.
Since then, West Ham United, Ipswich and Leeds have been linked with a move for the striker with no concrete offers yet made.
The Hammers are prioritising the signing of a striker following the injury to Niclas Fullkrug which will keep him out for three months.
Speculation over his future has been fueled by numerous media interviews carried out by his agent Matthias Veneroso, stating that he expects the striker to move this month.
Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb, via Sport Witnessin December, Veneroso said: “He's back to scoring,” he said. “Eight goals in the first part of the Championship and we expect something to happen in January.
“He is a striker and strikers are always the subject of attention in the January transfer window.”
Veneroso also spoke to Teesside Live in November, about Ipswich’s failed move over the summer, saying: “I'm delighted to see Emmanuel start to score goals again. It has been a tough period for him.
“There was some frustration after the last day of the window – but not because of the club or anyone personally.
“It was simply an unexpected opportunity to realise a dream – he has always wanted to play in the Premier League.
“That would have been a huge moment for him and would be life-changing economically and professionally.
“Before and immediately after, he was, of course, focused on Middlesbrough, but he is human too.”
