Middlesbrough agree to let £3.5 million midfielder sign for Wigan
by stresster on July 24th, 2008
| 240 words |
Does Gareth Southgate have another season of struggle on his hands? It remains to be seen, although he’s close to seeing another top-drawer midfielder leave the Riverside and join one of Middlesbrough’s Premier League rivals.
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The Daily Mail report that Boro have agreed a fee with Wigan for Lee Cattermole, with a deal close to completion for the tough-tackling player. With George Boateng also having jumped ship to Hull, does that leave a gaping chasm in the middle of the park?
Boro manager Gareth Southgate told the club’s official website, www.mfc.co.uk: ‘We have had a revised offer from Wigan and we felt that he was probably not in the right frame of mind to play.
‘It’s not a done deal, but the offer gives us something to consider and we thought for all parties it was best for him not to play.
‘It’s not agreed, but it’s pretty close to what we are looking for. He is still our player and with us on the trip, but something could happen in the next 24 hours.’
It was rumoured last season that Liverpool were in the hunt for Catts, although they ended up signing Javier Mascherano on a permanent basis instead. Steve Bruce is clearly showing his intent, with this kind of signing, with the midfielder one of the best players for Middlesbrough in the past couple of season. Boro fans, are you worried ahead of next season?
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Tagged Under: Gareth Southgate, lee cattermole, Middlesbrough FC, steve bruce, Wigan FC
Gavin Roper - July 24th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Im gobsmacked by this transfer! I dont know a boro fan that will be happy if it goes through.
He’s got a really bright future ahead of him, and in a couple of years could be worth twice the price thats getting thrown around now!
Most boro fans thought he was the successor to Boatengs throne, guess Southgate sees different.
First major mistake Southgates made as far as i can see… massive mistake!
Paul - July 24th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I too am gobsmacked at this transfer! £3.5 for a fringe player is exceptional business, especially for one who has failed to step up to the highest level and one who is known as much for his off-field antics and card tally as for his ability.
Boateng has been replaced by Digard and to some extent by Shawky who missed much of last season through injury and African Nations cup duty.
Add to this Julio Arca, Gary O’Neil and Josh Walker - a similar style of player who returns from a succesfull loan spell at Aberdeen we have more than enough central midfielders and this offer was too good to refuse.
If this is the biggest mistake that Southgate is going to make then we’re looking at a very bright future indeed.
Ian - July 24th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
>the midfielder one of the best players for Middlesbrough in the past couple of season
Did I read that correctly? He started a handful of games for us last season and was distinctly average at best.
Gavin Roper - July 24th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I agree Josh Walker is going to be an exceptional talent, but he needs a couple of years to get there. Julio Arca isnt a battling, hard hitting type player like Catts is, and Digard and Shawky have yet to prove themselves consistently at a Premiership level.
I dont think we should be looking to sell him til January at the earliest, let the others around him prove themselves first, better still give him a run in the first team, and see if he proves himself to be Georges successor!
Froojah - July 25th, 2008 at 12:10 am
What a stupid article, clearly know nothing about middlesbrough or Cattermole. To say hes beenone of our best players for the past 2 seasons is ludicrous. IMO Boateng is a bigger loss, Gavin Roper if you dont know a boro fan that will be happy if it goes through you dont know many boro fans at all. #3.5m for him is good money, he just has not progressed enough for us. He may go on to prove himself at WIgan and fair enough, but hes not gonna do it at Boro.
See how Digard performs in his 1st games, going by reports from the couple of friendly games, we will see how a proper young centre mid with potential should play.They’re the same age, play the same position so it should be interesting to see.