MIDDLESBROUGH are exploring the possibility of snapping up experienced Inter Milan winger Kily Gonzalez, as manager Steve McClaren prepares for life without two of his longest servants.

After days of will he, won't he, defender Ugo Ehiogu was finally given the green light to complete a free transfer back to first club West Brom yesterday.

And he will be joined on the road out of Teesside by Szilard Nemeth, provided the unneeded Slovakian striker proves his fitness to French club Strasbourg after spending the last few weeks sidelined with a hamstring problem.

The departure of the pair - who have been at the Riverside Stadium since McClaren took over in the summer of 2001 - has arrived at a time when McClaren has been told there will still be no funds available for new players commanding transfer fees.

That means the likelihood of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink or Ray Parlour also being sold on appears to have dwindled, with chairman Steve Gibson refusing to open the chequebook to solve the club's current plight.

Nevertheless McClaren can draft in a couple of fresh faces, so long as they arrive on a temporary basis or on free transfers.

Gonzalez fits that bill, although deals for Sporting Lisbon's Rudolph Douala or Wigan's Jimmy Bullard may have to be shelved for the time being.

The Inter star was a team-mate of Gaizka Mendieta when they hit the headlines by helping Valencia to the Champions League final together in 2000.

And, having played just 56 minutes in Serie A this season, Gonzalez has been made available at the San Siro and Boro are hoping tie up a loan deal for the Argentine until the end of the campaign, with a view to a permanent switch.

He turns 32 in August, the former Real Sociedad man represents a change from McClaren's policy of signing players under the age of 28.

But, given the lack of funds, the Boro boss has to deviate from his plans in a bid to strengthen a squad that is just five points above the relegation zone in the Premiership.

Gonzalez played for Argentina against England in the last World Cup in 2002 and knows his time in Italy is coming to an end, having played just 14 times for Inter last season.

The return to fitness of Stewart Downing ahead of tomorrow's trip to Arsenal has offered some light relief to McClaren in his bid to turn things around, but knows more faces are required to help turn things around.

The departure of Ehiogu yesterday to West Brom was finally agreed to after it emerged captain Gareth Southgate's ankle injury was not as bad as initially feared.

There had been serious suggestion Southgate was facing three months on the sidelines with a fracture, but could incredibly be back under three weeks after resting the problem.

"We were very concerned with the serious possibility that Gareth had a stress fracture," said McClaren. "Clearly if Gareth had joined Franck Queudrue as long term-injured it would not have been in the club's best interests to allow Ugo to move on.

"Now we feel it's best for the club that Ugo moves on to pastures new. He has been an outstanding servant and should be fondly remembered. I couldn't guarantee him the first team football he naturally wants at this stage in his career.

"It was right for us to be cautious and put the transfer on hold when there was concern Gareth could be out for an extended period, as we had to do what was right for Middlesbrough."

Regardless of Southgate's good news, McClaren remains in the hunt for a new defender. A right-back capable of playing in the middle would be the ideal recruit.

But, due to the club's increasingly reputable academy system, McClaren knows he has the youth players capable of filling in.

"The injuries have just added to the list that we already had and have had. What can you do when injuries like this happen? We just have to get on with it," he said. "What it does do when you get injuries, like we have had to George Boateng, it gives other people a chance like it did with Lee Cattermole. He made one of the best debuts I have ever seen from a youngster at Newcastle (on January 2) and he is just the latest in a long line of our youth players progressing. Matthew Bates has also proven this season that he can do it as well."

Portsmouth have cooled their interest in Boro's transfer-listed goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp had spoken earlier this week of his desire to have the Australian on board at Fratton Park.

However, after learning of Schwarzer's apparent £25,000 a week wages, Redknapp is now happy to pin his faith in Jamie Ashdown who returned to training for Portsmouth yesterday.

Redknapp said: ''If he is fit and can play this weekend or next we should have no problems in that area anymore."

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