With a 12-point gap opening up between Leeds United and one of their Championship rivals, the last thing the play-off contenders need is to see their top scorer spirited away by the bright lights of the Premier League.
As a Joel Piroe-inspired Leeds made short work of Stoke City in the Potteries, Middlesbrough somehow managed to turn a three-nil lead after 30 minutes into a draw against Sheffield Wednesday.
Leeds United have shot themselves in the foot more than most over the years. But even the Elland Roaders have not collapsed quite like this for some time.
Michael Carrick’s Boro side frequently flit from the awesome to the awful. On occasions like Boxing Day, sometimes within the very same game. And, with Danny Rohl’s spirited Owls exposing those old weaknesses once again, Middlesbrough fell out of the Championship’s top six, overtaken by Watford.
Their hopes of securing a play-off berth in 2025, then, will rest not only on Carrick’s ability to shore up the most porous defence of the top eight, but also on Middlesbrough’s ability to retain the services of Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Emmanuel Latte Lath Middlesbrough exit may have repurcussions for Leeds United
With nine goals in 14 starts, Latte Lath is Boro’s top scorer. Arguably their best shot at a return to the Premier League.
So, when the Ivorian’s agent was spotted arriving at West Ham’s training ground on December 24th – this was hardly the early Christmas present the Riverside faithful were hoping for.
Now, TBR Football have been told that Matthias Veneroso was visiting The Hammers with a view to representing some of the rising stars at the London Stadium.
Yet, it is very well documented at this stage that Latte Lath is high on West Ham’s list of transfer targets. That he turned up at West Ham now, just days before the transfer window opens, does not feel like a coincidence.
“Every player has his price,” TBR’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey tells Hammers News.
“Middlesbrough would take £25m for him. They have [former Boro attacker Tommy] Conway, who is better really, but if they [offered a big bid for Latte Lath] early enough they could do it.”
But, apart from lengthening Middlesbrough’s odds in the play-off battle, how would Leeds be impacted by Emmanuel Latte Lath’s potential switch to West Ham?
Well, according to the Sheffield Star, Leeds have been alerted to Louie Barry’s Aston Villa recall following a scintillating loan spell at Stockport County. With Patrick Bamford no longer the same force of old, and Mateo Joseph not exactly prolific, the chance to bring a centre-forward of Barry’s precocious talents to West Yorkshire is one Leeds – and Sheffield United for that matter – may jump at.
The Sunday Mirror (15/12, p67) reports that Sunderland, Burnley and Middlesbrough want Louie Barry too. After making light work of League One – he signs off at Stockport with 14 goals in 21 starts – Aston Villa are keen to see what the one-time Barcelona whizzkid can do in the division above.
Should Latte Lath leave Middlesbrough, that would open up a place in Michael Carrick’s starting XI for Barry to make his own.
But Leeds, with Joseph such a key part of Farke’s gameplan and Joel Piroe finding form, opportunities might be a little more seldom-seen at Elland Road.
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