Championship - Southgate hints at strike duo exits

Eurosport - Mon, 10 Aug 12:39:00 2009

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has given the biggest hint yet that Tuncay Sanli and Afonso Alves's exits are imminent.

FOOTBALL Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate during the Premier League defeat at West Ham that condemned them to relegation to the Championship. Chairman Steve Gibson backed Southgate as the man to guide them to promotion - 0

Qatarian club Al-Ahli are locked in talks with Boro over Alves and that deal should be finalised this week, but Tuncay's future remains unclear with no firm bids - although Aston Villa and his former club Fenerbahce have been linked with a renewed interest.

Boro are still waiting to finalise the pair's departures and, although their futures are still shrouded in doubt, Southgate says he has clear plans in place should they leave.

"We've got targets in mind if people do move on, yes," Southgate said. "But there are some positions where we could lose a player without a problem, while there are others where we are a bit light.

"At the same time, if we lost Tuncay and Alves, I wouldn't necessarily replace them with the same sort of forward. We would need to bring in the sort of player who is suitable for the division we are in."

Boro are known to be in the market for at least one more striker, likely in the target-man mould with Rob Hulse, Dave Kitson and Marlon Harewood all thought to be under consideration.

Meanwhile, Southgate admits he would be loathe to lose Robert Huth, who is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs.

Southgate has long stated that although some players were available to leave, he wanted to keep Huth and his central defensive colleague David Wheater.

But now Stoke have reportedly made their move, and with others ready to follow suit, Boro could find it hard to reject offers.

"I would rather not sell him but I know there are certain things we have to do as a football club," said Southgate.

"But Robert's approach is first class. Of course, it would be fantastic if he could go to the World Cup with Germany and a move might help him to do that.

"But he has been very realistic about it and has told me that he understands that for him to leave a club has to offer the type of money Middlesbrough want."

Huth captained Boro, in the absence of Emanuel Pogatetz and Julio Arca, in their opening game of the season as they drew 0-0 with Sheffield United.

"Robert has the physical attributes for this division but he also has composure on the ball too.

"In addition, he has started to develop excellent leadership qualities. He has shown me his ability to be a leader over the summer and that's why I gave him the captaincy against United."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. Alves should be made to stay til he earns what we paid­ for him.
    We have a habit of picking the worst strikers­ and getting rid of anyone decent.
    Four years ago we had­ the likes of Viduka, Hasselbaink and Yakubu. Now we­ have ...errr pass.
    Still.
    B*llo*cks to it al, come on­ Boro,
    We support you if true supporters we be.... and­ notice how I'm not reverting to being a pathetic­ schoolby and saying how bad clubs I don't support­ are.
    I think Southgate needs a mentor like Robson's­ last season.

    From Jonathan G, on Tue 11 Aug 4:57PM

  2. La Bamba

    shut up you fool. Newcastle and Sunderland­ DO NOT sell out there grounds every week, and havent­ done so for years.

    stick to something you know about,­ like flower arranging or basket weaving.

    tool

    From billy69_uk, on Tue 11 Aug 2:53PM

  3. Gareth, how about tuncay and alves stay and you go??? I­ dont support boro but im glad they are no longer in the­ epl. They have the worst supporters in thre north­ east, the other two fill their staduim week in week­ out. In addition, the fans was so depressing, every­ interview on sky or bbc the fans predicted that they­ would go down from xmas onwards.

    I would get rid of­ most of the forigners and bring the youth players­ through, buy good up and coming players from the­ championship and L1.

    From Pocket Rocket, on Tue 11 Aug 1:25PM

  4. Can't be long before Southgate's name is added­ to the exit list!

    From mambles, on Tue 11 Aug 4:44AM

  5. Rich S u r a @#$% wit...........who is your club, i bet­ Man UTD or Chelsea and that you are from Newcastle you­ sad tale end. C'mon Boro sign a good quality­ Championship striker and Attacking Midfielder and Boro­ wil go up no probs!

    From carllea81, on Mon 10 Aug 8:19PM

  6. #1 spot on, i can't believe southgate still has a­ job there, hats off to Gibson for staying loyal to his­ manager but, duh, shouldnt have given him the job in­ the first place. they might not go down anymore, but­ hard to see them going up with the last of their decent­ players on the way out. decent by boro standards­ anyway.

    From lionbeatspanther, on Mon 10 Aug 6:06PM

  7. Newcastle are $hit

    From Mike, on Mon 10 Aug 6:04PM

  8. Tuncay heading to Villa, Harewood heading for­ Boro...deal done

    From JOHN B, on Mon 10 Aug 4:55PM

  9. Poor Boro, with Gareth in charge you gonna keep going­ down lol

    From Rich S, on Mon 10 Aug 2:27PM
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