Boateng close to Boro exit

5:05am Tuesday 8th July 2008

AS the only remaining member of the 2004 Carling Cup winning team prepares to depart, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate last night insisted he wanted to keep George Boateng at the Riverside Stadium.

Six years after Steve McClaren paid Aston Villa £4.5m for Boateng, the dependable midfielder is on the verge of leaving after missing the first day of pre-season training yesterday.

After highlighting to Southgate that he feels it is time to move on, Boateng was a notable absentee at Rockliffe Park when new signings Marvin Emnes and Didier Digard were put through their paces by the club's new head of physical development, Frank Nuttall.

It is understood that the 32-year-old met with his manager yesterday afternoon to discuss his future, having already had further discussions with Premier League newcomers Hull City about a move.

Celtic have also made a wage offer for the midfielder, although Middlesbrough's insistence over a fee is holding up the possibility of a quick transfer.

Ideally Southgate would have liked to have kept Boateng on board for the last remaining year of his contract, but he has accepted the former Holland international is looking for a fresh challenge.

"George has expressed a desire to move on," said Southgate, who was Boateng's team-mate in the Carling Cup final four years ago. "He is having talks with a couple of other clubs, he has to decide where he wants to play his football. Until he does we can't say too much.

"It is George's decision to move on. He was disappointed not to be the first name on the teamsheet last season and I can understand that. We need that competition for places and I need to pick a team on form rather than reputation.

"If George was here he would get a fair crack just like everyone else, but he didn't seem to feel that was right for him. I am very relaxed about it.

"Experience is important at times but you want to have people who want to be here and totally committed. We would be more than happy for him to stay and we will shake hands and wish him well."

Given how Southgate completed the £4m signing of Digard, a defensive midfielder, on Friday night, he knows he has the numbers to allow Boateng to leave.

But, having already allowed Fabio Rochemback and Gaizka Mendieta to move on, he is still hoping to bring in Reading midfielder James Harper before the start of the new season.

Boro and Reading are haggling over a fee, although Bolton have emerged as genuine contenders for his signature. Southgate, also interested in Heerenveen's American midfielder Michael Bradley, is not losing any sleep over the situation.

"There are a couple of players we are monitoring," said Southgate. "It's a different scenario to the last couple of seasons because in certain areas we were really short.

"This year we have good players already and every area covered. If people do come in it will be a case of one in, one out. It's a more manageable process for us. I'm pleased we have two in, but if anything else is to happen, and it takes time, then so be it."

After holding a 30-minute team meeting with squad and backroom staff yesterday morning, Southgate was then heartened to see the shape his players - including a more slimline Mido - were in when Nuttall took his first session.

"We have brought new people in, we are trying to develop an elite sports team and club. We want people who are hungry to improve. Whether it is the physical or mental side we need experts in every field," he said.

"Frank has come in and he has worked with Rangers and the FA. We feel the physical side of things is progressing at a rapid rate. Chris Barnes monitors the player on a daily basis, while Frank will do on field things. We are pleased to have got him on board."

But Southgate has lost a key member of the Middlesbrough backroom in Steve Harrison. The first team coach, brought to the club by McClaren in 2001, has mutually departed because of health reasons.

"Steve Harrison has been a fantastic part here for seven years and I have known him throughout that period," said Southgate. "He had a big influence on me as a player. This was always going to be his last year and he has been struggling with a couple of things health wise.

"We know that Harry can come back through the door any time he wants to."