Garry Monk took charge of his first press conference as Middlesbrough boss yesterday. In the press conference, he was asked about recruitment. Monk responded, ‘That’s for me and the club to go through. In terms of the football side of it, I’m very clear of what I need to do’.
One thing that was clear last season is Middlesbrough lacked any real firepower up front. They only managed to score 27 goals all season long. This was the lowest in the league. Thankfully, however, for Boro fans, Monk seems to have been hinting at strengthening Boro’s attack when he stated he was very clear about what he needed to do. Because less than 24 hours later Middlesbrough have been linked with Nottingham Forest’s star striker Britt Assombalonga. Assombalonga signed for Forest in August 2014 from Peterborough United and when fit he has been their star man.
However, with Forest barely avoiding relegation last season, surviving only on goal difference, Assombalonga may now be looking for a move to a club with a higher chance of being promoted the next season. Middlesbrough could certainly be that team. But would Assombalonga be the right choice for Boro?
Prolific goal scorer
Britt Assombalonga’s goal scoring record certainly suggests he could be a good signing for Middlesbrough. Take last season for example. In the 2016/17 campaign, Assombalonga played 32 Championship games for Nottingham Forest. In those 32 games, he scored 14 goals and earned one assist. While this is not the highest goal tally in the Championship it is still impressive when you look at where Forest finished. Finishing 21st and avoiding relegation by two goal difference clearly shows they struggled all season. Despite Forest’s poor form, however, Assombalonga still managed to score 14 in his 32 games. That is nearly a goal every other game. Considering how bad Forest where that is an impressive stat for the striker to hold.
Also, in his first full season at Forest in 2014/15, he scored 15 goals in 29 games. This shows not only that he is a consistent goal scorer and not a ‘one season wonder’. But also that he is very capable of maintaining a goal every other game record. If he did sign for Middlesbrough and was their main striker next season and continued with this a goal every other game record he could easily rack up 20 plus goals for Middlesbrough next season.
Therefore, based on his consistent goal scoring record, Middlesbrough should attempt to sign Assombalonga.
Injury risk
However, while it’s nice to believe Middlesbrough could sign Assombalonga, make him their main striker, have him play nearly every game for Boro and score 20 plus goals. However, the reality could very different because of his injury record.
For example, in February 2015 Assombalonga had to have a knee operation. This injury kept him out until April 2016 meaning Forest were without their main striker for over a year.
Furthermore, even after returning from his knee injury at the start of last season he still seems injury prone. This past season Assombalonga missed 14 of Nottingham Forest’s league games. He missed these games not through suspension or by manager’s choice. But because he had a variety of little injuries.
Therefore, it is clear Assombalonga is still injury prone. So, if Middlesbrough were to sign him he could very well miss a large portion of the season. With Middlesbrough looking to win promotion straight away would it be the wisest move in the word to sign a striker who could very well miss a lot of the season, leaving at the moment, Rudy Gestede as Boro’s only out and out striker?
Expensive?
Another problem that could come with attempting to sign Assombalonga is his price. Forest themselves paid £5.89 million for him from Peterborough United. Since then he has proven, when fit, what a quality striker he is and it is clear he is by far Forest’s best striker.
With this in mind, if Boro do approach Forest for Assombalonga they will surely put a large price tag on him as he is so important to them. Combine this with today’s inflated transfer market and Middlesbrough may have to pay in excess of £10 million for him.
This could certainly deter Steve Gibson, Middlesbrough chairman from signing him given the failures he has had in the past when spending big money on strikers. Most recently Gibson paid £10 million for Jordan Rhodes who did not exactly live up to the price tag. Middlesbrough also paid £14.45 million for Brazilian striker Afonso Alves who was less than useless during his time in a Boro shirt.
Therefore, due to how badly Middlesbrough have done when signing big money strikers in the past, Gibson may want to give Assombalonga a pass if Forest put to big a price tag on him. This would not even be that bad a decision given that due to how injury prone he is Boro could splash the cash on him and then he could spend most the season on the injury table.
Overall, if Middlesbrough do sign Assombalonga and he stays fit he would certainly do well for then. But the reality is if he signs he may be injured for most of the season. He may also come at a hefty price which could put Boro off. Because of their poor transfers in the past.
Hopefully for Boro fans, however, if Middlesbrough do take a gamble on Assombalonga he will stay fit and keep up his consistent goal scoring record.
