Why David Strelec’s Middlesbrough move fell through at the final hurdle

PAOK’s failure to secure European football played a major role in their unsuccessful attempt to sign Middlesbrough striker David Strelec, meaning the Slovakia international will remain at the Riverside Stadium until at least January.

Strelec arrived at Boro from Slovan Bratislava last summer for an initial £6.5m, making him a significant investment for the Championship club.

However, his first campaign in England proved challenging, with the forward finding the net eight times in 35 appearances.

Why PAOK failed to complete a deal for David Strelec

Strelec struggled to establish himself as a regular under Kim Hellberg, while Middlesbrough’s decision to bring in Will Lankshear during the summer appeared likely to make competition for attacking places even tougher.

That led to speculation that the 25-year-old could leave before the transfer window closed, with PAOK emerging as a potential destination. Reports had also claimed the Greek side had reached an agreement over personal terms with the player.

However, the proposed transfer ultimately failed to materialise.

According to a fresh report from Teesside Live, PAOK’s inability to qualify for the Europa Conference League was an important factor in the deal falling apart.

The Greek club had apparently been counting on the additional revenue generated by European football, but their hopes were ended by Norwegian side Brann, who defeated them across their two-legged Conference League tie.

With the Greek transfer window now closed, Strelec will remain with Middlesbrough for the time being.

Strelec has struggled for opportunities this season

The striker has endured another frustrating beginning to the campaign, although his lack of involvement has partly been explained by an injury that disrupted his pre-season preparations.

Strelec has featured only twice in the Championship so far in 2026/27, with both appearances coming from the bench late in matches as Middlesbrough searched for goals.

His limited involvement has also coincided with an impressive start from Lankshear, who has quickly established himself as a major attacking option following his move from Tottenham.

That makes breaking into Hellberg’s starting XI a difficult task for Strelec, particularly while the new signing continues to perform well.

There is still an opportunity for Strelec at Boro

Despite his limited involvement, Strelec still has plenty of time to change the situation.

Hellberg has previously described the forward as a “brilliant footballer”, suggesting the Middlesbrough boss remains aware of the qualities he can bring to the squad.

The demands of a long Championship campaign will also provide opportunities. Injuries, suspensions, fixture congestion and changes in form are likely to test Middlesbrough’s attacking depth as the season progresses.

The upcoming international break could also prove useful for Strelec as he looks to rebuild his fitness following his disrupted pre-season.

While his first season in English football did not produce the numbers he would have wanted, the experience of adapting to the Championship should help him going forward.

For now, Strelec remains a Middlesbrough player, and the collapse of the PAOK move gives him another opportunity to prove his value and potentially play a role in Boro’s promotion ambitions.