Middlesbrough must consider player with 26 goal contributions if priced out of Pavel Sulc deal | OneFootball

Boro should cast their eyes to another European first division should they find a deal for Pavel Sulc too expensive.

Middlesbrough are among a host of clubs reportedly keen on signing Viktoria Plzen attacker Pavel Sulc, but there may be an ideal alternative if a deal becomes too costly for the Teessiders.

Boro are hoping, and indeed, need, to really ramp up their summer recruitment drive over the next few weeks.

The new season is almost upon us, and with a month to go until the transfer window slams shut on 1 September, Rob Edwards' squad still feels thin on the ground in terms of strength and quality in depth in key areas.

Defender Alfie Jones and defensive midfielder Abdoulaye Kante have joined from Hull City and Troyes respectively, but with targets still being courted, Middlesbrough are in a race against the transfer clock in order to sufficiently bolster their ranks if they wish to make a serious promotion push next season.

Pavel Sulc would be superb addition for Middlesbrough - Boro are at major risk of being priced out of a deal

Middlesbrough must obtain some more firepower in attack before the window closes, having lost Emmanuel Latte Lath and Isaiah Jones last winter, as well as seeing Josh Coburn sold to Millwall in June.

It was frustratingly obvious just how eroded Boro's sharp cutting edge had become following the aforementioned sale of Lath, and the injury to Liverpool loan star Ben Doak halfway through the campaign, and the club are yet to restock.

One player that could go a very long way to changing that, however, is Viktoria Plzen's versatile goal-creating machine, Pavel Sulc.

The 24-year-old Czech international is understood to be a player that Middlesbrough have enquired about this summer, but the Teessiders appear to be facing some serious competition for his signature.

Premier League side Bournemouth are known to have also expressed their interest in acquiring Sulc's services, with other English clubs also said to be keeping a close eye on his situation.

Italian giants Lazio as well interest from Germany and Turkey has also been detailed, and so it's easy to see how Boro could quickly find themselves being priced out of a deal for the attacker should things start moving in terms of bids being tabled.

Sulc is in the final year of his contract with Plzen, and the club are said to be expecting to cash in on their talisman this summer.

Dominik Fitz would be ideal Pavel Sulc alternative for Middlesbrough

Sulc may well be the dream for Middlesbrough this summer when it comes to signing a versatile attacker who can play anywhere across the forward line.

However, dreams don't always come true, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other top-quality options out there for Boro to sign who very closely align with Sulc's profile.

One of those is Austria Wien star, Dominik Fitz.

A wonderfully talented attacking midfield player who is in possession of a fantastic right foot, Fitz brings very similar levels of production when it comes to direct goal contributions as Sulc, but crucially for Boro, he could come considerably cheaper.

The 26-year-old former Austria youth international is set to become a free agent next summer, having spent his entire career with Austria Wien so far.

As such, similar to Plzen's situation with Sulc, Wien will be know that if they don't sell Fitz this summer, then they are at major risk of losing him for nothing in 2026, and given he's two years older than Sulc too, that could also impact his transfer value.

Wien's number 36 has been superb for the club over the last few years, having hit double-figure goals in all competitions in each of his last three seasons, with only one of those not seeing him register double-figure assists either.

Capable of playing in central midfield, as a number 10, out wide or even as a centre-forward, Fitz brings a very similar skillset, production and versatility to the table as Sulc, and therefore, he could be a fantastic alternative option should Middlesbrough get priced out of a deal for the Plzen playmaker.