Sky Bet Championship side Middlesbrough are interested in signing Celta Vigo forward Erik Bugarin in the summer, according to reports from Spanish media outlet Faro di Vigo.

The 16-year-old forward has caught the eye after a string of impressive performances for the La Liga side's youth team, and is attracting interest from plenty of high-profile clubs.

The striker is highly rated by the Spanish club, who are renowned for developing exciting youngsters and turning them into superstars.

Wolves' Jonny Castro Otto and current club-captain Hugo Mallo are just a couple of high-profile names who have been nurtured by the club.

And it is believed that Tony Pulis' Middlesbrough are interested in signing Bugarin, who has been a regular for Vigo's Cadete B side this season.

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Middlesbrough have been shy in front of goal this season, scoring just 40 goals in 39 games in the Championship, with Tony Pulis coming under major scrutiny in recent times.

Boro have dropped out of the play-off spots after five straight league defeats, and now sit 8th in the league standings.

The Verdict

Boro will have obviously done their homework on the player and clearly see him as one for the future, perhaps someone who can follow in Gaizka Mendietta's footsteps at the Riverside.

They need to bolster their attacking options, because for a team chasing promotion to the Premier League, 40 goals in 39 games just isn't good enough at all.