Middlesbrough nabs Rudy Gestede from Aston Villa

Rudy can't fail?

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has sought to address his misfiring strikeforce with the signing of Rudy Gestede from Aston Villa for a fee reportedly worth £6 million.

The strapping frontman has put pen to paper on a contract which will run until June 2020, adding a marksman to an attack which is joint-worst in the Premier League with bottom-placed Hull City.

(Courtesy: @Boro)

Gestede, who has been handed the No. 29 shirt on Teesside, scored four goals in 18 Championship appearances for Aston Villa this term, and will bring extra physicality and aerial prowess, while hopefully alleviating an over-reliance on Alvaro Negredo up top.

Gestede was last in the Premier League during Aston Villa's disastrous relegation from the top flight last season, contributing five goals in 32 appearances, and will be available for selection immediately due to his homeland Benin's inability to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Middlesbrough welcomes Sheffield Wednesday to the Riverside in Sunday's FA Cup third-round clash.