Aitor Karanka’s men are gearing up for their return to the Premier League.
Middlesbrough have emerged as surprise contenders to sign two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Robin van Persie, the Daily Mail reports.
The 32-year-old’s current club Fenerbahce have opened the door for the Netherlands international to leave this summer after just one season in Turkey, which has led to speculation that he is destined to return to England.
A previous report in the Daily Mail claimed that both Crystal Palace and West Ham have been offered the chance to sign van Persie, but the Mail suggest that Boro could now join the chase as they step-up their preparations following their promotion to the top flight.
Though Aitor Karanka had a hugely impressive cluster of strikers to pick from during their successful Championship campaign, their attack boasts a limited amount of experience at the highest level.
In contrast, van Persie spent more than a decade at the sharp end of the top flight, helping both Arsenal and Manchester United continually challenge for the title, proving instrumental in leading the latter to the league crown in 2013, as he scored 26 goals along the way.
Though the forward’s injury troubles will leave some doubting whether he still has the ability to make a major impact at the Riverside Stadium – especially as he will surely be relying on service that is not quite as good as it was when he was with the Gunners or at Old Trafford – his record in Turkey is hugely impressive and suggests that he still has plenty to offer.
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