Middlesbrough Coach Carrick Affirms Club’s Control Over Latte Lath’s Future

Emmanuel Latte Lath, who debuted for Ivory Coast in June, is the subject of transfer speculation, but Middlesbrough’s head coach, Michael Carrick, states the club is not engaging with it. Latte Lath is currently one of the team’s joint-top scorers. The forward has netted eight goals in the Championship this season. Since his arrival from Atalanta in August last year, he has accumulated 24 goals across 37 league starts. Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, Carrick clarified the club’s position: “It’s [the speculation] not coming from us – we’re looking to be successful and we’ve built a good squad and we’ve got a lot of options so it’s pretty clear where we stand.” He further emphasized the club’s authority, stating, “We’re in control of things to a large extent in terms of the group of players we’ve got and what January looks like.” Carrick added, “There’s always decisions to be made and that’s sometimes for different reasons but we’re happy with the squad we’ve got and we want to come out of January as strong, if not stronger than when we are going into it – and we’ll do everything we can to do that.” Latte Lath’s current four-year contract, signed upon his arrival, still has over two years remaining. Despite this, he was linked with a potential transfer to Ipswich Town in August. Middlesbrough currently holds the sixth position in the Championship standings. The team is scheduled to play against Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday, and Burnley before the January transfer window commences. Carrick acknowledged the broader football landscape, remarking, “You’ve got to be realistic in terms of where we are and what other leagues or teams are out there, but certainly for us we’re pushing, striving, fighting for every inch we can to improve as a group.” He concluded by expressing his continuous ambition for the squad: “I just want to keep getting better and keep trying to add and improve the squad as much as we can and see where that takes us.”