Boro hold Schwarzer talks

Veteran shot-stopper could remain on Teesside

Last updated: 13th May 2008

Mark Schwarzer

Schwarzer: Negotiations

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Middlesbrough are holding talks with goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who is out-of-contract this summer.

The 35-year-old failed to agree terms with Boro last year with the Australian looking for at least a two-year contract to take him through to the 2010 World Cup.

However, Boro have held off on negotiations, despite interest in the player from the likes of Juventus, Fiorentina, Celtic and Bayern Munich.

Now Boro are ready to talk terms but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to strike a deal with their longest serving player.

"We are talking to Mark. I'd like him to stay," said Southgate.

"His experience is important but he has real drive and determination that is still increasing.

"He is the one in our dressing room that can truly say he has played at the highest level - in World Cups, in Europe, in cup finals and so on.

"We have to negotiate and see where we go, but players have to want to stay here and we have to want to keep them.

"Mark has been here a long time so he has to decide if he needs a fresh challenge, whether what we are trying to do is going to excite him, whether he feels he is going to be appreciated here."

Departures

The club have confirmed that Gaizka Mendieta and Lee Dong-gook have officially left the club after their contracts ended.

"It was a difficult situation for a player of Gaizka's caliber to find himself out of the first team reckoning. It was a dent to his pride," said Southgate.

"I made it clear to him that he did not figure in my plans but he decided to stay and try to get back into the first team.

"That didn't work out but his attitude to training was always excellent and he was a good influence on some of our young reserve team players."

And on the South Korean he added: "We took a chance on signing Dong-gook at a time when money was tight.

"By his own admission, he didn't play as well as he thought he could, but he was never a minute's problem.

"He has offers from clubs in Japan and possibly Germany so we wish him well, as we do with Gaizka."

Fabio Rochemback's exit was also confirmed by Boro - although that was already known as he flew to Portugal on Monday to have a medical with former club Sporting Lisbon.

"We both feel that the time is right for Fabio to have a fresh challenge," said Southgate - who decided against taking up a two-year option on him at the start of May.

"He is a talented footballer and I think he's just had his best season for us, while it was fitting that he should bow out against Manchester City on Sunday with probably his best performance in a Middlesbrough shirt."