EMMANUEL Latte Lath's agent says transfer interest in the striker is inevitable after his blistering end to the season - but believes the Ivorian is now worth three times what Middlesbrough paid for him 12 months ago.

Matthias Veneroso, who represents the striker, says Latte Lath is "loved" at Middlesbrough and he has no attention of courting interest and a move this summer, but admitted "anything can happen" in the transfer window.

Latte Lath finished an impressive first season on Teesside with 11 goals in 12 games, scooping the April Player of the Month award in the Championship.

The 25-year-old endured a tricky start to life at Boro, with injuries disrupting the early stages of the season, but was in full flow come the end of the campaign and established himself as a favourite with the supporters, which he admitted after the final day win over Watford is a "special feeling".

Latte Lath is happy at Boro and, says his agent, is aiming to win the Championship and promotion to the Premier League next season - with Veneroso of the belief that his client is already top flight-ready.

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He told Sportitalia “If I had to look at it from the point of view of maturation and what he has done this year, I can tell you that he’s ready.

“Then we’ll have to make the appropriate evaluations, bearing in mind that he has a contract with Middlesbrough, where he’s aiming to do a top-level championship and try to win the league.

"Having to look around is not our first objective, but we know that strikers are rare commodities and anything can happen.

"He's scored 11 goals in the last 12 games, always starting as a starter, a crazy end to the season in terms of numbers. Beyond the numbers, the performances were also on the rise. Those who look at it see with the naked eye what kind of growth it has made."

Latte Lath joined Boro for a fee believed to be in the region of €5 - and still has three years left to run on his contract.

Asked what the striker is worth now, Veneroso said: “I can’t tell you the value. The English market is different from all others. It’s certainly a high value, I imagine at least triple what was paid. The club will decide it in the face of any requests."

Latte Lath struggled to make his mark in Italy with Atalanta and it was on loan in Switzerland with St Gallen that he caught the eye. Veneroso believes the frontman is well suited to shine in the Championship, but was asked whether he'd be interested in returning to Serie A in the future.

He said: “We are certainly attentive to those steps that can represent growth for the player. Without having the need and the desire to necessarily do something.

“He’s doing well at Middlesbrough, the club loves him and he has a contract. We have to understand what will happen, because being a striker we know that some offers will arrive, but they will have to be carefully evaluated.”