Beating Celtic to Strelec a real coup for Boro

...AND CAPTURE OF NYPAN AHEAD OF BIGGER CLUBS NOT BAD EITHER!

- 

MIDDLESBROUGH appear to have succeeded where Glasgow Celtic have failed.

Here we have David Strelec newly snapped up as Boro’s most expensive signing of the summer and looking forward to doing the biz for the club.

Yet, just a few months ago, the vast majority of Celtic fans believed that the Slovakian international was on his way to Celtic Park.

There are even pictures of him to be found on the web, clearly manipulated by AI, showing Strelec wearing the green and white hoops of a Celtic shirt.

When Boro showed interest in Strelec in January, it was Scottish champions Celtic who appeared to be in the driving seat.

The Scots apparently submitted an official bid of £7m, but it was turned down by Slovan Bratislava, who were holding out for £9m.

The high fee probably led to Celtic deciding not to go ahead with an improved offer at that stage, and also caused Boro to take a seat on the sidelines and monitor events for a few months.

Both clubs were back in the running for Strelec this summer - which suggests that the Slovak international might be a little bit special.