Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Latte Lath miss has left the Teesiders reeling, but what does it mean for their Championship campaign? The Ivorian's departure has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike, with some arguing that his departure is a blessing in disguise.
What happened?
Emmanuel Latte Lath completed his loan move to Union Berlin earlier this week, but there was a point where a return to the Championship could have been on the cards. The 27-year-old became the MLS' record signing just 18 months ago when Atlanta United paid £22.5 million to bring him across the Atlantic from Middlesbrough, after he netted 29 times in 67 appearances for the Teesiders.
Why it matters for Middlesbrough
While Latte Lath's departure may have been a blow to some fans, Middlesbrough's fan pundit Liam Day isn't too fussed about losing out on bringing him back. "The big issue for me was that he always seemed to want to leave and that his agent was always pushing for a move," he continued. "He seemed desperate to leave the club, and that isn't what you want."
What comes next?
Middlesbrough have perfectly good striking options that would have made an Emmanuel Latte Lath return slightly pointless. Boro could break their transfer record with a new signing, and with the frontline at the Riverside now looking very strong heading into the new campaign, it's unlikely that Latte Lath's departure will have a significant impact on the team's performance.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 5th in Championship, 80 pts, 22W-14D-10L from 46 games, recent form LLDDW. Goals this season: 72 scored, 47 conceded (+25 goal difference). Title race: 15 points behind leaders Coventry. Next fixture: vs Charlton (away, 2027-01-23) (19th in the table).
