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Middlesbrough boss faces fight to hang on to O’Neil
STAVING off an immediate
threat of relegation occupies
Gareth Southgate's mind this
morning but, provided Premier
League status is preserved, he
could soon have to deal with a
midfield merry-go-round.
Reading, West Ham and Aston
Villa are weighing up a move for
Gary O'Neil this summer, just
one season after he moved to the
North-East from Portsmouth.
With sources claiming O'Neil
would be receptive to a move closer
to his southern roots, despite
an impressive first year on
Teesside, Southgate could be
forced to sell at the right price.
With O'Neil still recovering
from surgery after sustaining lateral
knee ligament damage in the
1-1 draw at Tottenham last
month, a deal is unlikely to take
place until July or even later.
But it is more than likely the
former England Under-21 man
will be heading south again,
where Reading would lead the
chase provided they stay up.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley
has been told to reduce
the club's wage bill but, provided
he can sell big earner Freddie
Ljungberg, O'Neil is viewed as a
candidate to replace the Swede.
The 24-year-old has become an
integral part of Southgate's team
this season, having played 29
times in the right of midfield position
which had become a problem
to fill.
It has also emerged, according
to sources in Portugal, that
Fabio Rochemback has been
told he will not be handed
a new contract at
the Riverside
Stadium.
Middlesb
r o u g h ,
h o p i n g
to claim
the victory
at home to
Portsmouth tomorrow
that will keep
them in the top-flight,
did not want to confirm
or deny the claims
last night.
But, after interviewing
the player's father
Juarez, Lisbon-based
Radio Renascenca have
reported that Rochemback
will be leaving at the end
of the season, with Sporting
Lisbon the likely destination.
It was suggested that a
May 1 deadline for Middlesbrough
to take up an
option to extend his existing
terms by a further
two years passed without
an agreement being
reached.
"My son is very interested
in a return to Sporting,"
said Juarez Rochemback.
"But other clubs have
also asked about his situation."
French side Monaco are
now thought to have entered
the chase for his signature,
along with Brazilian clubs
Gremio and Vasco de Gama.
While the futures of Rochemback
and O'Neil are uncertain,
there has also been interest in
George Boateng, Julio Arca and
Lee Cattermole in recent
months.
It is a situation that has led to
the recently expanded recruitment
team - bolstered by the arrivals
of Gordon McQueen and
David Mills - being instructed to
work on a list of possible replacements.
Derby County's Giles Barnes,
Fulham's Steven Davis and
Chelsea's Steve Sidwell are three
men in Southgate's sights, although
he is keen to concentrate
on keeping Boro in the Premier
League before working on any
transfer deals.
The Boro boss has also been
shocked to read that record
signing Afonso Alves could
have to serve a lengthy
suspension.
Southgate insists there are no
such fears, despite the fact the
Brazilian was back in Holland
this week as AZ Alkmaar
continue their battle for
compensation after losing out
on his signature.
Despite a ruling from the
Dutch Football Association that
stated AZ Alkmaar never had a
pre-contract agreement with
him, the Eredivisie outfit are
claiming a £5.9m payment from
Alves.
And, having already forked
out £12.7m on the South
American in January,
Middlesbrough are washing
their hands of the issue by
suggesting AZ should deal only
with Heerenveen.
AZ have also got FIFA
involved and it is a situation
which should finally come to a
close after an arbitration
hearing on May 19, when a
lengthy playing ban has been
mentioned as a possible
punishment.
Middlesbrough, however,
remain confident there will be
no such penalty. "Alves went to
a hearing on Tuesday and I
don't think a suspension could
happen," said Southgate.
"There would have to be a
problem with the transfer itself,
but that is not the case because
the Dutch FA sanctioned it.
There's no possibility he could
be suspended.
"He's very relaxed, it doesn't
really involve our club and he's
very calm, he doesn't think he
has anything to answer. The
Dutch FA gave a verdict before
he came here and this is an
unfortunate side show. I don't
think it's preying on his mind
from what I've seen."
With Jeremie Aliadiere fit
again after missing out on
Saturday's 3-2 defeat at
Sunderland, Southgate must
decide whether to include the
Frenchman or keep Alves and
Tuncay Sanli up front.
Southgate also has Mark
Schwarzer and Ross Turnbull
available again and both are
competing to replace Brad
Jones against Portsmouth.
9:39am Friday 2nd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: bob_joylove, yarm on 12:41pm Fri 2 May 08
"despite an impressive first year on Teesside"
Who you kidding? Same goal tally as Schwarzer, can't beat a man, no evident skill. He is Morrison without the goals.
"despite an impressive first year on Teesside"
Who you kidding? Same goal tally as Schwarzer, can't beat a man, no evident skill. He is Morrison without the goals.
Posted by: davwind, twickenham on 3:29pm Fri 2 May 08
Don't you remember the midfield without him? He's young, English, gives us balance and a hundred percent and for the money has proved a real bargin. If he is this bad why the interest from Premiership rivals? Or do you know something we don't? Lets try and keep our good players there's plenty I'd rather see go before him.
Don't you remember the midfield without him? He's young, English, gives us balance and a hundred percent and for the money has proved a real bargin. If he is this bad why the interest from Premiership rivals? Or do you know something we don't? Lets try and keep our good players there's plenty I'd rather see go before him.
Posted by: Lee, Over The Moon on 4:14pm Fri 2 May 08
Why would he want to leave when he can play in front of huge 20000 crowds at middlesbrough
Why would he want to leave when he can play in front of huge 20000 crowds at middlesbrough
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