Aitor Karanka: Enthusiasm key to Middlesbrough signings

Wildschut arrived from Heerenveen and Vossen from Genk

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka said the enthusiasm of Jelle Vossen and Yanic Wildschut was key to their transfer-window arrivals on Teesside.

Boro brought in Belgium striker Vossen on loan from Genk and Heerenveen's Dutch forward Wildschut on a permanent deal this summer.

"We waited to the last second because they wanted to join us," Karanka told BBC Tees.

"The most important thing for me is to get players who want to come."

Karanka continued: "Both are players we wanted for a long time and we were patient."

This summer's recruitment - in Karanka's first full season at Boro - has strengthened the squad with 13 permanent or loan arrivals.

Chelsea have provided three loanees in Patrick Bamford, Kenneth Omeruo and Jamal Blackman, while Spaniard Karanka's knowledge of his native game persuaded Kike and four other Spanish-origin players to arrive at the Riverside.

"I'm very happy because we have brought in the players we wanted at the beginning," he added.

"We now have the best young players on loan, a lot of players on a free and, the players we spent money on, their value - such as Kike, [Adam] Clayton and Wildschut - has increased, so we're very happy."