MIDDLESBROUGH'S Emmanuel Latte Lath is of interest to Ipswich Town, as reported by Mail Online on Friday morning, with the Tractor Boys prioritising the capture of a striker ahead of tonight's transfer deadline.

It's not clear at this stage whether Ipswich have made a firm approach for the striker.

But, as planned, Latte Lath will be part of the Boro squad travelling to Wales this afternoon ahead of Saturday's game at Cardiff City.

Boro have been bullish in their stance this summer when it comes to keeping star players, and Michael Carrick said on Thursday: "We have a really good squad and good players and when you have good players it's understandable that they're talked about.

"And it's understandable that maybe some teams are looking at them. It's natural at this stage of the window that ramps up and the rumour mill and what's true and what's not really.

“I think it’s the nature of this time of the year. Deadline is Friday and we have a game Saturday. There are rumours, calls - everyone is ringing everyone asking if they know about this and that. At this stage, we are where we are and we’re calm. There’s no drama from my point of view."

Ipswich want to sign a striker today after a move for Armando Broja fell through on Thursday.

A number of other strikers have been linked with the Tractor Boys.