Middlesbrough have dipped into the transfer market and picked up Turkey striker Tuncay Sanli on a free transfer. The player has put pen to paper on a 4 year deal pending a successful application for a work permit. The 25 year old was previously at Fenerbahce but his contract recently expired. He passed a medical at Boro’s training ground and is said to be looking forward to life in the English Premier League.

Sanli has already won 43 caps for his national team and will pull on the number 17 shirt for Boro – the same as his international number. He has a proven track record with a respectable 77 goals in 207 games for Turk champs Fenerbahce. He is already known in the Premiership after scoring a hat trick against Manchester United in a Champions League clash.

Tuncay was a perennial fixture at Fenerbahce winning 3 league titles since his arrival in 2002. Now with the expiry of his contract the striker has been snapped up by Boro who have been looking to boost their attacking capabilities following Mark Viduka’s defection to Newcastle. Boro capabilities were further diminished by the release of Malcolm Christie and Danny Graham. Sanli will fight alongside new signing Jeremie Aliadiere from Arsenal and Yakubu and Dong-Gook Lee for first team football.