Boro boss looks for more
27 Apr 2007 - 08:29:32
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate hopes that the permanent signing of England defender Jonathan Woodgate will help the club in their search for more top-class recruits.
Woodgate has sealed a £7million move to the Riverside from Real Madrid after a successful loan stint and Southgate hopes that that will help persuade other players to join Boro.
He said: "Players want to play alongside good players and alongside top players, and having somebody like Jonathan at your club is a great attraction for other people who might want to come and play for us.
"Lots of people might have looked at it as the season went on and thought we would lose him to somewhere else. It is fantastic for us that we have managed to secure him.
"He made his mind up a while ago. He said to me he did not want to wait until it was perceived there were no other options for him.
"He made his decision at a time around about Christmas when there was a lot of attention around him, and he felt this was the place for him to come back and play."