£4m Middlesbrough deal with Leicester City was worth it despite Premier League snub

£4m Middlesbrough deal with Leicester City was worth it despite Premier League snub

In 2015, Aitor Karanka signed Leicester City striker David Nugent, who became a key member of his Premier League promotion-winning club.

Boro, still reeling from their Championship play-off final defeat to Norwich City in May, believed they had the makings of a squad capable of returning to the top division for the 2015/16 season.

However, with forwards Jelle Vossen and Patrick Bamford returning to their home clubs Genk and Chelsea, respectively, and attacking midfielder Lee Tomlin joining Bournemouth, Middlesbrough needed to strengthen their forward line.

They did so with a former England international and goalscoring rival, who would play an important role in what would prove to be a remarkable season on Teesside.

Aitor Karanka found crucial character in Middlesbrough’s Premier League promotion story in Leicester’s David Nugent

Nugent arrived at the Riverside Stadium ready to spearhead Karanka’s attack after signing from the Foxes during the summer transfer window of 2015 for an estimated £4 million.

After scoring just five Premier League goals for Leicester the previous season, the then-30-year-old was judged surplus to needs at the King Power Stadium, but with a deadly goalscoring record in the second division, Boro jumped at the chance to sign a proven marksman.

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