Leeds United set for recruitment meeting after MLS-record bid for Middlesbrough star | OneFootball

Leeds United are set to discuss striker recruitment following Atlanta United's MLS record bid for Middlesbrough forward Emmanuel Latte Lath

Leeds United are due to hold a recruitment meeting on Monday to evaluate strikers, following Atlanta United's MLS record bid for Middlesbrough forward Emmanuel Latte Lath.

That's according to the Mail Online, who report that Boro have received a bid of around £20m from Atlanta for Latte Lath's services, which includes add-ons, and could potentially become the new MLS transfer record fee.

Give Me Sport previously revealed the Whites' interest in the Ivory Coast international, as Daniel Farke's side look to achieve promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

Leeds set to hold recruitment meeting amid Latte Lath MLS record bid

Given their reported interest in the 26-year-old, it is likely that Latte Lath will be heavily discussed during the Whites' striker recruitment meeting on Monday.

But the West Yorkshire outfit will have to act fast if they wish to land the Boro man's services in January, following Atlanta's bid, and would have to fork out a hefty transfer fee of £20m.

Meanwhile, despite their clear desire to recruit a new striker, the Whites are the Championship's top scorers, having hit 48 goals in 26 fixtures, five more than any other club in the division.

But the second tier's second-highest scoring team are Boro, who have benefitted from the services of Latte Lath, who has notched 10 goals in 26 league appearances.

In fact, the Boro man has scored the same number of goals as the Whites' top scorer, Joel Piroe, in the same number of Championship outings, but the Dutchman's return of five assists is better than that of Latte Lath's two.

With Piroe boasting similar numbers to the Middlesbrough forward, the West Yorkshire side may be reluctant to match Atlanta's eye-catching £20m bid.

However, Farke's desire to bolster his forward line is understandable, given the fact that his next highest scoring out-and-out striker is Mateo Joseph, who has scored just two Championship goals this term.

As such, the Whites are often reliant upon the goal-scoring efforts of attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, and widemen Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

Meanwhile, former England international Patrick Bamford remains out of favour, and young forward Joe Gelhardt has agreed to join Hull City on loan, as per the Hull Daily Mail.

Latte Lath would be a big loss for Boro amid play-off battle

Largely thanks to Latte Lath's attacking prowess, Boro currently sit fifth in the Championship table, and will fancy their chances of landing a play-off spot.

However, losing a prolific attacker such as the Ivory Coast international would clearly come as a major blow to the top-six credentials of Michael Carrick's side.

While the £20m Boro could be set to receive from Atlanta could certainly soften the club's woes, selling him to a promotion rival such as the Whites, who currently sit top of the Championship table, could be a damaging move.

It remains to be seen for now whether the West Yorkshire outfit will look to rival Atlanta's bid for the Boro hotshot, with a decision likely following the club's recruitment meeting.