Emmanuel Latte Lath finalised his loan move to Union Berlin earlier this week, but it was possible that he would return to the Championship.

The 27-year-old became the MLS’s record signing just 18 months ago, when Atlanta United paid £22.5 million to get him from Middlesbrough, where he scored 29 goals in 67 games.

His time in America hasn’t been great, and with only two league goals for the team in the bottom of the Eastern Conference, he’s on the move again, signing with Bundesliga club Union Berlin for the coming season.

However, the door to Germany was wide open at the moment because, according to the Daily Mail, visa concerns prevented both previous team Middlesbrough and fellow Championship big-hitter Burnley from participating.

Middlesbrough fan pundit remembers flashes of greatness from Emmanuel Latte Lath as former striker heads abroad.

Latte Lath’s skill at Championship level was undeniable during his time at Middlesbrough, with 16 goals in his debut season and 11 in 29 games in the first half of the following year.

When asked if he’d like to see the Ivorian back in a Borough shirt, FLW’s Middlesbrough fan commentator, Liam Day, backed up that thought by recalling some of his best performances.

“There is no doubt that Latte Lath is a skilled player. “There were moments in his Borough career when you looked at him and thought, ‘Wow,'” he said.He was a nuisance up top, very quick, and had amazing finishing at times; consider the header and the one where he cut in and placed it in the top bins at Leeds, which was quite incredible. But he didn’t display it consistently enough to believe he’d make it to the top.

Middlesbrough fan commentator is “not gutted” after missing out on Emmanuel Latte Lath’s return

Despite spurts of brilliance, Day, like many Borough fans, was dissatisfied with Latte Lath’s willingness to leave the Riverside during his 18-month tenure.

He was clearly better than Middlesbrough’s eighth-place finish in his first full season with the club, but with Michael Carrick leading Borough into a play-off spot midway through the 2024/25 season, many would have rather him to stay rather than leave to the MLS.

As a result, while Day acknowledges his talent, even after a terrible period in America, he isn’t concerned about missing out on bringing him back, preferring to have players who want to play in the Premier League with Middlesbrough.

“The big issue for me was that he always seemed to want to leave and that his agent was always pushing for a move,” he said. “He seemed desperate to leave the club, and that isn’t what you want.”Although I would have welcomed him back, I am not disappointed that he is not returning.He’d have been a good alternative, but I thought it weird that he chose to go after such a short period of time, so I’m not disappointed he’s not returning.”

Middlesbrough has perfectly decent striking alternatives that would have made an Emmanuel Latte Lath return somewhat meaningless.

Middlesbrough were crying out for a powerful striker at the start of the transfer window, but those concerns have been answered, and the Riverside frontline now looks very formidable heading into the new season.

Borough could surpass its transfer record for Will Lankshear, who joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £20 million, as well as signing Kyle Joseph for £4 million.

Lankshear will be the recognised line-leader for Kim Hellberg next season, with Joseph, Tommy Conway, Morgan Whittaker, and David Strelec filling in as needed behind him, providing more than enough of a danger at the top end of the pitch.

So, while Latte Lath is a good striker, a transfer for him may seem unnecessary considering the club’s current squad and the investment made in the position.

With the ruffled feathers he appears to have caused among the Middlesbrough fanbase in the manner in which he left the club, perhaps the visa concerns that prevented Borough from signing him were a blessing in disguise.