The Colorado Rapids are in talks with Middlesbrough about a potential club-record deal for Morgan Whittaker.

Kim Hellberg’s team won 3-1 over fast-starting West Brom on Saturday, with Will Lankshear scoring twice more, bringing his total to six in his first five outings for the club.

Middlesbrough were desperate for a recognised striker this summer, with Hellberg’s major frustration at the conclusion of last year being the lack of a merciless number nine to finish off the quantity of chances he generated.

Lankshear is quickly taking on that mantle, but the guy he has removed it from may be on his way out of Riverside before the transfer window closes at 11 p.m. later today.

Colorado Rapids has made a record bid for Morgan Whittaker

According to Ben Jacobs and Alex Crook, the Colorado Rapids have agreed to a club-record agreement with Middlesbrough forward Whittaker.

The 25-year-old finished last season as Middlesbrough’s highest scorer in the Championship, with 14 goals and seven assists.

It was a much-needed breakout year in Borough colours, after failing to score in 16 games in the 2024/25 season after joining from Plymouth Argyle midway through for a reputed sum of up to £7.5 million.

Whittaker has just one assist and no goals in five games this season, with the attacking attention now firmly on Lankshear, and Colorado are looking to see if the Borough man is available to leave the club on deadline day.

The Rapids have a decent amount of money to spend after they recouped $17 million for 19-year-old Lucas Herrington by selling him to Hull City. Their current transfer record is €7 million, set last summer when they signed Paxten Aaronson, the brother of current Leeds United player Brenden, from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Middlesbrough should use Emmanuel Latte Lath’s sale as a precedent if Morgan Whittaker leaves on deadline day.

It’s clear that if Whittaker moves to Colorado, it would smash their transfer record, which presently stands at less than what Middlesbrough paid to bring the 25-year-old in from Plymouth 18 months ago, with all add-ons completed.

It’s unclear what the bid is, but Borough have a useful precedence when selling to the MLS, having sold Emmanuel Latte Lath for a record £22.5 million just days after signing Whittaker in February 2025.

Latte Lath did have more goal involvements than Whittaker in a Borough shirt (33 to 23, having played one more game), so while Middlesbrough may not be expecting high payments comparable to the 27-year-old’s transfer, they should still be looking for a solid eight-figure fee.

Middlesbrough should only authorise Morgan Whittaker’s contract if a replacement can be found in time.

Whittaker’s goals came in spurts last season. A six-game scoring streak was followed by a three-goal streak in 16 games, and his inconsistencies were a source of aggravation.

So, some Middlesbrough fans may not mind Whittaker leaving, especially if it frees up space in the team for other players who, with more playing time, could show to be more productive in that position.

With the money coming in, Kim Hellberg’s side will have little time to find a replacement, and there’s no doubt that he’s an important player in the Swede’s setup, even if the goalscoring load isn’t on him as much as it once was.

However, if a loan transfer for Amario Cozier-Duberry is in the works if Whittaker departs, as is rumoured, the loss of Whittaker may not be as damaging.