Middlesbrough desperately need a prolific goalscorer to aid their promotion bid – and Garry Monk has shown he may have the talents to improve Rudy Gestede.
Rudy Gestede looked primed to have a big impact in the Premier League when he nodded a winning goal on his Aston Villa debut in 2015.
The Benin international had scored 20 goals in the Championship the season before, but, after his fine start, form then deserted him as Villa slumped to relegation.
Gestede was then relegated again with Middlesbrough last term and must now rebuild his career in the second tier.
However, in new Boro boss Garry Monk, the 28-year-old might have happened across the perfect man to get him back on track and finding the net on a regular basis.
Monk’s sole season at Leeds United saw him inspire a 27-goal return from Chris Wood, who, like fellow target man Gestede, had previously struggled to find consistency in the Championship.
The Sun claimed at the end of the campaign that Wood is now valued at £20million – and Boro would love to see Gestede similarly transformed.
Rather than seeking a profit on their buy, though, the Teesside club will hope the forward is able to fire them back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
After all, their last relegation led to a long seven-year wait for a Premier League return.
According to the Teesside Gazette, Boro are bidding to sign Britt Assombalonga from Nottingham Forest for a club-record fee, but – if Monk can work his managerial magic again – their striking answer could already be at the Riverside.
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