MIDDLESBROUGH will continue to monitor David Strelec between now and the end of the season as they assess their long-term striker options.
The Slovakian was a target for Boro in the January transfer window, and Slovan Bratislava boss Vladimír Weiss has now revealed that the Championship club made a "good offer" for the 23-year-old.
Weiss says the Slovakian league leaders gave Strelec "consent" to leave the club on the eve of deadline day but at that stage it was too "rushed" for a deal to be concluded.
It comes as the striker's dad, Milan, also revealed to the media in his homeland that Celtic made a late move but wouldn't match Slovan Bratislava's asking price of £9.5m. The Scottish champions are said to have offered £8m.
Had Emmanuel Latte Lath finalised his Atlanta United move earlier, Boro would have been in a position to push on with their pursuit of Strelec. But, for obvious reasons, Boro weren't able to commit to a permanent striker signing - especially at the figures Slovan Bratislava were asking for Strelec - until they knew Latte Lath's switch was definitely going to go through.
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By the weekend, Boro were also delighted with the deal they'd been able to agree with Sevilla for Kelechi Iheanacho. Boro identified the former Leicester and Manchester City striker as a high-class loan option, and they're understood to be paying less than 50% of the 28-year-old's salary. Boro beat Celtic to the signing of the striker, while Leeds had also shown an interest earlier in the window. The Nigerian international is understood to be keen to get his career back on track after a frustrating spell at Sevilla.
The loan signing of Iheanacho also gives Boro the opportunity to reassess the long-term striker picture ahead of the summer, when they know what league they'll be in next season.
They might need to win promotion if they're to land Strelec, with his current boss Weiss of the opinion the striker can play at a higher level than the Championship.
"David Strelec had a chance go to Middlesbrough in the second English league," said Weiss.
"I believe that he will be able to choose an even better club later. Middlesbrough FC gave a good offer. We have decided that David will stay with us. First, we gave to him consent on the eve of the end of the transfer window.
"Finally, transfer didn't work out with Middlesbrough. It was all very rushed and everyone has a part to play in why the transfer didn't go through.“
On Celtic's interest, Strelec's dad, Milan, said: "The clubs did not agree. And is David sad?
"First of all, he is a professional, and he takes it that way. The world will not collapse.
"Strelec was very interested in staying to help Slovan win the championship and get them back into the main stage of the Champions League.
"I don't take it as tragic either, although a transfer to Celtic would have been great."
