EXCLUSIVE: Middlesbrough in talks with Bristol City over major striker swap .Date published: Saturday 30th January 2021 9:57

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https://www.teamtalk.com/news/exclusive-middlesbrough-bristol-city-assombalonga-diedhiou-swap-talks

EXCLUSIVE: Middlesbrough in talks with Bristol City over major striker swap​

Date published: Saturday 30th January 2021 9:57

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Middlesbrough and Bristol City have held talks over a possible blockbuster swap deal that could see Britt Assombalonga and Famara Diedhiou moving in the opposite direction.

City have a long-standing interest in Assombalonga – who is out of contract with Boro this summer – and they had been readying a summer contract offer.

However, a move could be accelerated to this transfer window after it emerged that Boro have a liking for City striker Diedhiou.

Neil Warnock is keen on landing a target-man, and with Chuba Akpom, Duncan Watmore and fit-again Ashley Fletcher, they are willing to let captain Assombalonga leave.

We understand that top-level talks between Boro and City, and swap deal has been talked about, and it looks like both parties are keen.

Swap could happen before deadline​

Senegal international Diedhiou and DR Congo ace Assombalonga have almost mirrored each other since joining their two clubs. Both moved in the summer of 2017 for big money, and both have hit around 50 goals in 150 games.

Assombalonga joined Boro for £15million from Nottingham Forest, whilst City gave Angers over £5million for Diedhiou.

Whilst swap deals are notoriously difficult to pull off, this is one that has a chance of happening by Monday’s transfer deadline.

Other transfers and football news:
 
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newyddion said:
Britt loaned to Bristol and Famara Diedhiou loaned to Boro on deadline day.. then any pre contracts can be settled after the window.. maybe?
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You would hope that would be the back up plan if they can't get the permanent deal done.
 
Would this Diedhiou defo be an improvement on Britt, do most think?? I watched his highlight reel earlier from a recent season and couldn't make up my mind, but can't just go off 5 min compilations .. my only concern was if those were 'highlights' then he doesn't seem the greatest finisher and wonder if he'd contribute more goals than Britt would from this point of the season. Though he would help bring others into play holding up and assist which is a strength of his he seems handier than Britt at, I thought.

If there's truth in this link, he does join and Britt goes the other way, as I always say I will trust NW's judgement and see how we end up with the guy. When we signed Britt I remember being pleased as I had always felt we should bring him to the club, that he'd improve us at this level and get more goals, but that hardly materialised and he hasn't been prolific.. how wrong I was haha. As ever our luck with strikers the past decade or so has been odd, they seem to go backwards when they pull on a Boro shirt. 😂

I hope if this bloke does come he offers us a bit more than we've been used to seeing too often now. Good to have Fletcher back too .. I really don't rate Akpom at all and wouldn't be surprised if he went elsewhere in the Summer.
 
It’s an upgrade in the sense as he fits our style more, the lad is like a Poundland Lukaku but that’s exactly the type of player we need, physical and strong and mobile. I think it would be a cracking bit of business if we get this over the line.
 
Colin Warnek said:
Identical records says it all. It isn't an upgrade aside from Diedhiou is younger.
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This is what's making me wonder if this is going ahead at all .. if he does come I hope he proves me wrong but I don't feel we'll notice much difference going by what I know so far.
 
Colin Warnek said:
Identical records says it all. It isn't an upgrade aside from Diedhiou is younger.
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I think he's being brought in with an eye more towards style of play than outright goals.

We've signed plenty of free scoring players to deliver goals and ruined them.

We may finally be trying to address this by signing a player who suits our formation and style of play rather than purely off goal stats.

Warnock sides tend not to have a single high scoring striker anyway. If he brings more from Watmore, Bolasie and Tav by holding it up, creating space and giving the centre halves a hard time he'd be an upgrade as long as he chips in four or five before then end of the season himself.
 
Caesium137 said:
I think he's being brought in with an eye more towards style of play than outright goals.

We've signed plenty of free scoring players to deliver goals and ruined them.

We may finally be trying to address this by signing a player who suits our formation and style of play rather than purely off goal stats.

Warnock sides tend not to have a single high scoring striker anyway, if he brings more from Watmore, Bolasie and Tav by holding it up, creating space and giving the centre halves a hard time he'd be an upgrade as long as he chips in four or five before then end of the season himself.
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Spot on
 
Caesium137 said:
I think he's being brought in with an eye more towards style of play than outright goals.

We've signed plenty of free scoring players to deliver goals and ruined them.

We may finally be trying to address this by signing a player who suits our formation and style of play rather than purely off goal stats.

Warnock sides tend not to have a single high scoring striker anyway. If he brings more from Watmore, Bolasie and Tav by holding it up, creating space and giving the centre halves a hard time he'd be an upgrade as long as he chips in four or five before then end of the season himself.
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Yep... that's what I'm hoping for if he does come. If he gets more out of the likes of Watmore and the rest than Britt or Akpom are currently capable of, then it's definitely the right move since Britt would only be moving on in the Summer anyway, I guess.

Maybe his wages aren't as high as Britt's either which would be more helpful to the club. I'm guessing Britt is probably our highest earner at the moment??
 
Cosmonaut said:
Yep... that's what I'm hoping for if he does come. If he gets more out of the likes of Watmore and the rest than Britt or Akpom are currently capable of, then it's definitely the right move since Britt would only be moving on in the Summer anyway, I guess.

Maybe his wages aren't as high as Britt's either which would be more helpful to the club. I'm guessing Britt is probably our highest earner at the moment??
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Me too, we play out of possession a lot and look to win possession high up and create openings. In games where were we are struggling (seemingly against the more agricultural sides) we need the ball to stick up top and the forward to bring our runners in to play.

I think he'd be an upgrade in that department

Hopefully with a stronger forward we'll have a bit more freedom to play a forward out wide (definitely one, maybe two some games) rather than a wing back.

Edit: - I posted this line up yesterday, I love the look of it if everyone is fit and on form.............

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Too attacking for Warnock?

I'd love to see Diédhiou up top but that's not looking likely now.

--------------------------Betteneli------------------------


Dijksteel----------McNair------------Fry-------------Bola


--------------------------Morsy---------------------------


-----------Howson------------------Tavernier--------------


---Bolasie--------------------------------------Watmore---


---------------------Diédhiou/Fletcher---------------------
 
Caesium137 said:
Me too, we play out of possession a lot and look to win possession high up and create openings. In games where were we are struggling (seemingly against the more agricultural sides) we need the ball to stick up top and the forward to bring our runners in to play.

I think he'd be an upgrade in that department

Hopefully with a stronger forward we'll have a bit more freedom to play a forward out wide (definitely one, maybe two some games) rather than a wing back.

Edit: - I posted this line up yesterday, I love the look of it if everyone is fit and on form.............

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Too attacking for Warnock?

I'd love to see Diédhiou up top but that's not looking likely now.

--------------------------Betteneli------------------------


Dijksteel----------McNair------------Fry-------------Bola


--------------------------Morsy---------------------------


-----------Howson------------------Tavernier--------------


---Bolasie--------------------------------------Watmore---


---------------------Diédhiou/Fletcher---------------------
Click to expand...
I like the look of that. Diedhiou being an upgrade on Britt/Akpom in better hold up play bringing more out of Bolasie/Watmore etc could be just what we need to cap off a decent window. As I said though I just don't know much about the guy, the more I'm reading about him though I am hoping it comes off now. Haha. It's pretty much a nothing to lose situation, worse cases scenario him being just the same as Britt but perhaps a cheaper version :ROFLMAO:
 
Cosmonaut said:
I like the look of that. Diedhiou being an upgrade on Britt/Akpom in better hold up play bringing more out of Bolasie/Watmore etc could be just what we need to cap off a decent window. As I said though I just don't know much about the guy, the more I'm reading about him though I am hoping it comes off now. Haha. It's pretty much a nothing to lose situation, worse cases scenario him being just the same as Britt but perhaps a cheaper version :ROFLMAO:
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Yep, you never know, I'm unsure if Bristol are big payers, but I doubt he'll be on Britt's often reported £35k a week. So maybe a wage budget saving too, to offset against whatever were paying for Bolasie.
 
Caesium137 said:
Yep, you never know, I'm unsure if Bristol are big payers, but I doubt he'll be on Britt's often reported £35k a week. So maybe a wage budget saving too, to offset against whatever were paying for Bolasie.
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Indeed ... hopefully, saving on wages, though if he does come in as a direct replacement for Britt in NW's plans, there's no doubt his agent will be looking for a similar packet to state the obvious. Replacing our outgoing captain and first-choice striker. If he costs us less though and brings out more in the rest of our attacking players then it's a cracking bit of business for once by the club to cap the window off. As I've said I didn't expect anything more than Bolasie at most this window, not even Bolasie himself, thought we'd end up with some obscure unknown instead and that was it. Haha.

Interesting to see what the next day brings, then .. maybe another loan too if Roberts is gone?? I forgot about that .. what's the situation with him I wonder ..
 
Brit might be attracted by the fact he knows he wont be offered anything like his current wages in the summer?
Its a chance to freshen up and prove himself.
Does he know hes not going to be wanted in summer, so its a jump rather than a push to test the water?
Either way, Neil prefers attacking players who all add to scoring.
Brit isnt up to the mark [imo] and clearly needs to move on.
 
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