Middlesbrough have been named as a club in the chase for Viktoria Plzen’s Pavel Sulc, but faces stiff competition from elsewhere.
Rob Edwards is looking to improve his side heading into next season after the former Watford boss was appointed to lead the Teesside club into the Championship playoffs. Only one signing has been confirmed so far this season, recruiting young goalkeeper Owen Foster from the Hull City academy.
Sulc A Target
According to the Daily Mirror’s Ryan Taylor, Middlesbrough are in the race for Viktoria Plzen’s Pavel Sulc, with the 24-year-old set to leave the Czech side this summer with just one year left on his contract. With 20 goals and 15 assists, the attacking midfielder was the second-highest scorer in the 1. Liga, and recorded the most combined goal involvements in the division.
Plzen, spearheaded in attack by former Derby County man Matej Vydra, finished a distant second in the league behind Slavia Prague, but still secured a Champions League Qualification Round berth. Plenty of their best assets have been mooted with moves away, with Lukas Cerv briefly linked with Norwich City before those rumours were denied.
However, Boro will have a major battle on their hands with AFC Bournemouth also in the chase for Sulc. Interest from other European sides has also been stated in the form of Lazio in Serie A and unnamed sides in Turkey and Germany. No formal offers have been received for the Czechia international, who has 14 caps and four goals to his name and played once in EURO 2024.
Writers’ View
This would be a great signing for Middlesbrough. Pavel Sulc is a very versatile playmaker and his record last season saw him thrive in one of Europe’s better leagues as well as help Viktoria Plzen to the last 16 of the Europa League. Alongside Finn Azaz, Rob Edwards would have two outstanding players just behind the strikers. However, they are likely the outsiders in this chase. After the high-profile sales of Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, as well as the widely expected exit of Illia Zabarnyi, Bournemouth will have lots of money to throw around to bolster their existing attack of Justin Kluivert and Evanilson. The pull of Premier League football too is priceless so Boro may not have much of a chance to beat their English competition to this signature.
