Middlesbrough look set to break their transfer record to sign a new striker, and Bookmakers firmly believe they will.

Boro’s current record deal stands at £12.7million they paid for Brazilian striker Afonso Alves back in 2008, although they came close to beating that last summer when they paid £12millilon for Dutch midfielder Marten De Roon.

Middlesbrough are ranked as one of the favourites for promotion to the Premier League and new boss Garry Monk has been given a hefty war chest to bolster his squad and has already agreed deals for Jonny Howson and Cyrus Christie, but it is for a new striker that the really big money looks to be spent.

It is understood that Nottingham Forest’s Britt Assombalonga is his primary target, but they have already turned down an £8million bid from Burnley and have slapped a £15million price-tag on him.

Whilst £15million has scared off some teams – Boro are very much still keen and are ready to smash their transfer record by paying that for the 24-year-old.

Ladbrokes rate Boro at 7/4 to land Assombalonga, and they firmly believe the deal will happen.

“Monk already has his eyes on the prize of promotion back to the Premier League, and the signs suggest he could break Boro’s transfer record to get Assombalonga on board for the ride,” Ladbrokes’ David Burin told TheGamblingTimes.com.