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According to TEAMtalk, Middlesbrough are keeping a close eye on Willem II forward Fran Sol ahead of a potential move in the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

It is not exactly breaking news that Boro are struggling in the final third of the field.

Tony Pulis’ side have the best defensive record in the Championship this season with just 16 goals conceded in their 22 matches.

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It has been a real struggle down the other end, however, with just five teams scoring less goals than them at this stage of the Championship season.

Boro are sixth in the table as things stand, but a lack of a regular goalscorer might well come back to haunt Pulis’ team come the end of the season.

According to TEAMtalk, Boro want to bring Sol to the Riverside Stadium, but will face competition from Celtic, Rangers, and a clutch of English teams including Burnley, Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town and Leeds United.

What would Sol bring to Boro?

Goals. Indeed, the 26-year-old has managed 15 goals in 18 matches in all competitions this season, including 12 in 16 league appearances.

The Spaniard actually came through the youth system at Real Madrid, and went on to score 16 times for their C team before joining Villarreal B in 2014.

Sol only made two league appearances for Villarreal, but scored 27 times in 73 appearances for their B side ahead of a move to Willem II in 2016.

Sol has netted 45 times in 86 matches for Willem II in all competitions, and it is not a surprise that teams are closely watching the forward.

Jordan Hugill, Britt Assombalonga and Rudy Gestede have all had their problems this season, but the January arrival of Sol would give the whole squad the boost it needs to ensure that their promotion bid continues.