Middlesbrough: Viktor Fischer perfect for EPL jump

Middlesbrough have made the jump to the Premier League and they have brought in Viktor Fischer to hail their arrival. Bravo, Middlesbrough.

One of the most enjoyable things about welcoming three new teams into the EPL (except Hull City, they’re always coming and going) is investigating what the new arrival can do. That takes on a whole new angle when considering what Leicester City was able to do.

With a ragtag bunch gathered up from Jamaica to Algeria, the Foxes went from promoted, to relegation contenders to Premier League champions in the span of two years. It was obviously such a rare occurrence, but it has everyone wondering who could be next.

These newly-promoted sides have something you can’t always find in the EPL regulars. They have a hunger and drive to not be relegated again.

Middlesbrough has had a rough go since being relegated in 2009. They fell as far as 20th in the Championship and suffered through a revolving door of coaches before they finally emerged for the promotional playoffs two seasons ago.

They lost.

Middlesbrough finished second this year, avoiding the playoffs, and now sit, awaiting their first EPL season in quite some time.

But they didn’t just sit. No, that would have been too easy. Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka wasted no time in securing his first EPL transfer. For a measly £3.8m, Karanka signed up the young Danish winger, Viktor Fischer.

Fischer had been spending his time at Ajax, but it was clear that he needed to stretch his legs in a bigger league. Despite fantastic returns in the Eredivisie, he was used primarily as a sub, accounting for just 1191 minutes in the Netherlands top flight across ten starts and 18 substitute appearances.

However, in those 1191 minutes, he scored eight goals and added three assists.

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The Danish head coach said it perfectly when he called Fischer unique. It’s the best word to use.

Fischer reminds me a bit of Andriy Yarmolenko. He is a big, strong winger that has deceptive speed and clinical finishing ability. However, unlike Yarmolenko, Fischer has additional versatility that allows him to play just about anywhere in front of the halfway line.

That versatility is what Danish coach Age Hareide referred to as ‘depth’.

Fischer is a Swiss army knife and that can only mean good things for newly promoted Middlesbrough. Wherever they need him, he has experience. He has long been touted as one of the more promising talents in Europe and it’s easy to see why when you see this young man dominate the pitch.

Next: Axel Witsel would make Stoke consistent

Middlesbrough have a lot to look forward to. Not meaning to put undue pressure on him, but aren’t we all looking for the next Riyad Mahrez?

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