No quick deals for Boro

Southgate rules out early moves

Last updated: 21st May 2008

No quick deals for Boro

Southgate: Looking at targets

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Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is not expecting any immediate success in the transfer market.

The Boro boss is very much on the lookout for new faces with midfield a priority.

But Southgate - who has been strongly linked with the likes of Steve Sidwell, Tom Huddlestone and James Milner, is not expecting anything to happen soon.

"We've got targets. Everybody is finished now so they'll start to reflect on what they're needing to do but negotiations take time because selling clubs - the same as we would be - they'll want the best possible price and that means on occasions you have to wait for deals to be done," he said.

"I think there will be very few of those (deals) anywhere in the league. The majority of clubs will do things in June - lots of players will be involved in the European Championships so there will be one or two transfers across the league over the next few weeks but not many."

Boateng & Riggott

Southgate has also suggested that George Boateng and Chris Riggott - two players who seemed set for summer exits, could still play a major part for the club.

Former captain Boateng was in-and-out all season, whilst Riggott returned to the club for the last two games of the season after spending time on loan at Stoke.

But Southgate is now thinking over how he could still utilise the experienced pair.

"I think George expected to be a first choice right through last season and was disappointed when he was left out," Southgate said of Boateng.

"I'd like him to stay. If he does, he knows he would be an important part of the squad. There would be no guarantee that he would be in the side, but there'd be no guarantee that he wouldn't be in the side either."

On Riggott, the Boro boss added: "Chris told me that he enjoyed coming back more than he thought he would.

"With Chris, I learned a lesson that I need to pick players on form, not reputation.

"He maybe feels it was an uneven playing field last season but I have assured him that it won't be like that next year.

"I think he would end up playing matches for us. If he started the season well he could end up being a first choice. When he's in the team, he can be a good leader, though I think he would admit that wasn't the case when he was out of the team last season."