Middlesbrough FC

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Boro restructured O'Neil deal

05 Sep 2007 - 16:11:06

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Portsmouth have received only £2.5million up front for Gary O'Neil after the player's agent revealed his deadline day move to Middlesbrough hit a late snag.

The 24-year-old joined the Teessiders just minutes before the transfer window closed at midnight on Friday for a fee that was believed to be worth £5million.

However, agent John Mac has revealed Boro renegotiated the deal after an MRI scan raised fears over surgery that O'Neil underwent during the summer.

"Things had to be restructured between the clubs, but it did not mean Middlesbrough will pay less than £5m for him - in fact they will end up paying slightly more on appearances," Mac told the Portsmouth News.

"If they (Boro) had offered less than £5million, he'd have been sent back it's as simple as that. There is no way he would have gone for less than £5million.

"Pompey had three other clubs prepared to pay that amount."

However, Mac has denied claims that the deal was in danger of collapsing during a protracted medical which ran long into the evening.

"We were not party to everything that went on. But from our point of view, it went smoothly," he added.

"We live in a 15-minute world where people want everything done instantly.

"It doesn't always work like that and a transfer is a complicated business."