Munich target Schwarzer ponders Middlesbrough future (From The Northern Echo)

Munich target Schwarzer ponders Middlesbrough future

8:37am Tuesday 22nd April 2008 in

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THE appeal of Champions League football looks certain to lure Mark Schwarzer away from Middlesbrough this summer after Bayern Munich renewed their interest in the goalkeeper.

Schwarzer remains determined to land a two-year contract to take him up to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, where he is determined to play in his second finals for Australia.

With an offer of a one-year deal on the table on Teesside, he has been talking to interested clubs since the turn of the year under the rules of freedom of contract.

But chief executive Keith Lamb insists that Middlesbrough have not received any indication that Schwarzer has made up his mind to leave.

Lamb said: "Mark Schwarzer and the club agreed some time ago that there would be no discussions with regard to his contract until the season is over.

That remains the case."

Schwarzer is not short of offers and, although settled in the region, it is clear the prospect of a dream move to a club competing in the Champions League at this stage of his career is attractive.

There are sources close to Schwarzer that suggest he has made up his mind to leave, having become frustrated at the way a two-year extension has failed to materialise.

And manager Gareth Southgate has been working on that eventuality, with Tottenham's Paul Robinson at the top of his list to replace the Aussie keeper.

He is also satisfied with the progress being made by younger keepers Ross Turnbull and Brad Jones.

Schwarzer, though, has been delighted to learn that some of the best clubs around Europe are included in a long line of interested parties looking to sign him.

Runaway German leaders Bayern Munich, former European champions Juventus and Champions League bound Fiorentina are among nine continental clubs hoping to recruit his services.

There are also understood to be three Premier League outfits hoping to convince him to turn down the offer at the Riverside Stadium, where he has spent the last 11 years.

Bayern have been looking to take Schwarzer to the Bundesliga for the last 12 months and, with the legendary Oliver Kahn due to retire at the end of the season, the need has become more pressing.

Given how Boro's experienced goalkeeper turns 36 in October, Bayern are also likely to be in the market for a younger keeper, while a move to Juventus would purely be as back up to Gianluigi Buffon.

Fiorentina, arguably the lesser regarded of the three leading the chase for his signature, also look destined to play in club football's premier competition. They sit fourth in Serie A, four points ahead of fifth-placed AC Milan with four matches remaining.

Schwarzer was ruled out of Saturday's defeat to Bolton with a back problem and there is a doubt that he will be fit to return for the trip to Sunderland this weekend.

But in Turnbull, who made numerous stops in the loss to the Trotters, Southgate feels that Middlesbrough have a promising talent that has the potential to become a top-flight keeper.