ACTUALITE |
09.08.2005
Can`t Dou a deal!
icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk
Eric Paylor, Evening Gazette
Boro`s search for a quality midfielder is back to square one after the proposed deal for Rodolphe Douala hit serious snags.
Sporting Lisbon are demanding an inflated price for the 27-year-old Cameroon international winger, who has impressed in his three performances against Boro this year.
The Evening Gazette understands that the deal is not completely dead in the water - but it would need a change of stance by Sporting, and possibly a higher offer from Boro, for talks to start.
Sporting are said to be looking for around £6m, while Boro`s valuation is much lower.
The crunch will come on Wednesday night. If Sporting play Douala in their Champions League clash with Udinese, then there is little chance of the deal being revived.
The Douala setback means that Steve McClaren must go into the Premiership campaign without the major new creative player he had been targeting.
The Douala deal stalled over the weekend with McClaren saying: "We made an approach. We have come away from it."
However McClaren stressed to the Gazette that Boro have not given up hope of the Douala deal being revived, though clearly it will not happen quickly.
It`s frustrating for the manager because Sporting were initially very amenable.
But the goalposts moved, the price zoomed, and Sporting have since revealed they are ready to offer Douala a new contract.
It may be all part of the negotiating game, but it means that Boro cannot afford to have all their eggs in one basket and must continue their search.
Boro are still interested in Sporting`s central midfielder Fabio Rochemback, who is contracted to Barcelona.
But it`s highly unlikely that Boro would be awarded a work permit for the 23-year-old, who holds a Brazilian passport and any potential deal looks a non-starter.
The manager was hoping for better news today of his second summer signing Emanuel Pogatetz.
Boro were expecting Pogatetz`s appeal against a 24-week ban to be heard by the Russian Football Union appeals committee today.
McClaren said: "We have heard that they are meeting today.
"We`ve heard this before but, hopefully, this time it`s for real.
"Obviously we are starting to run out of patience because it has dragged on for so long.
"The lad is training with us and we need to know where we stand.
"We have been in contact with his agent and he has a lawyer working on it.
"Now we are keeping our fingers crossed that it is finally about to be cleared up."
Pogatetz cannot play any competitive football for Boro and will not kick a ball until Christmas unless the ban is reduced.
McClaren`s need for cover at left-back was further emphasised when Franck Queudrue was switched into the middle for the second half of yesterday`s 1-0 friendly win against Espanyol.
Michael Reiziger had to be moved from the right to play at left-back for the final 45 minutes.
With Stuart Parnaby sidelined with a knee injury, Boro are a bit thin at full-back.
However, they comfortably overcome Espanyol in a tight game.
McClaren was delighted to finish off with a win as he prepares for Saturday`s clash with Liverpool, saying: "It wasn`t just about the performance and a clean sheet, it was about winning the game.
"So I`m pleased, especially as we played a lot better than we did against Atletico Madrid.
"Espanyol were a lot more compact so it was a tough game, and it`s what we needed.
"We have improved with every game. Now we are looking forward to meeting Liverpool."
Boro trainee Nathan Porritt was unable to prevent England Under-17s from losing 2-0 to Ireland in the final of the Nordic Tournament in Reykjavik.
The 15-year-old, from Grove Hill, was also involved in all three of England`s group wins.
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