Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka feels he may have secured one of the best transfer deals of the summer with the capture of Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo from Valencia.

The former Manchester City forward struggled to make any real impact for Los Che last season and at times found himself out of favour at the Mestalla.

The 30-year-old joined Boro on a season-long loan deal earlier in the summer and has shown glimpses of his potential with two goals in pre-season.

Karanka says the forward could play his way into any side in the Premier League if he finds top form and full fitness, but the Boro boss has urged for the club’s fans to remain patient with Negredo for the time being.

“He’s been good for us,” Karanka said, as reported by Gazette Live.

“I want to tell everybody that we have to keep calm with him because he’s coming from a difficult season last season, he’s not 100% but he’s scoring goals.

“The league (this season) will be different and we have to be patient.

He knows he’s not 100% and I know that, as if he was 100% he’d be playing for Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United or Manchester City.

“I’m pleased with him, he wants to help us and for that reason he joined us.

“Last season he couldn’t play in the games he would’ve liked to play, so we have to give him all our confidence. But he has to know we have Jordan Rhodes and David Nugent too – great alternatives.”

Middlesbrough host Stoke City in the opening round of fixtures and they are priced at 2.15 to begin the campaign with a win.

Boro are 2.88 to be relegated, while fellow newly-promoted sides Burnley and Hull can be backed at 1.83 and 1.67 respectively.