Christian Stuani set to sign for Middlesbrough

Christian Stuani is set to sign for Championship club, Middlesbrough from Espanyol subject to International clearance.

The Uruguayan Striker is set to sign for the Teeside club for about £3.6 million  from La Liga side Espanyol. He was expected at Rockliffe park today, and manager Aitor Karanka was eager to get the deal wrapped up and the striker on board at the Teesiders training complex yesterday.

The Gazette Live reported that he was at Rockliffe yesterday and they were just awaiting International clearance before he could sign. He completed his paperwork earlier this week but he stayed in Barcelona until arriving on Teeside yesterday.  As there is no problem with a work  permit as he holds an Italian passport, he only needs to await clearance from the Spanish FA.

The Uruguayan international striker has had 22 international appearances with 4 goals. He also played a part in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil for Uruguay, scoring in both of the warm up matches but only played one in the actual tournament in a 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica. He has played 71 games for Espanyol scoring 18 goals for the La Liga team.

Middlesbrough  are also pursuing Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes. Blackburn turned down an offer in excess of £10 million, but Rhodes wasn’t happy about this. He told ESPN FC “I have been advised by the club that they have rejected an offer  from Middlesbrough for my services which was in excess of what Blackburn paid for me,”  he went on to say “I am ambitious and have never hidden my desire to play at the highest level possible and that was one of the reasons why I left Huddersfield Town for Blackburn.”

“When I left Huddersfield I felt the timing was right in the next stage of my career and, having seen Middlesbrough’s performances last season in reaching the playoff final and their ambition this summer in terms  of acquisitions, I would have liked to have been able to talk to them and I am unhappy at not being given that opportunity.”

It seems that Boro are after a Striker as this is what they lacked last year. They created loads of chances but didn’t convert many and this seemed to halt their promotion chances last season. If both deals do pull through, then with new signing Stewart downing and last years best defence still being the same, Boro could be a dominant force in the Championship this year.