Source: Northern_Echo
Emnes signs up but Arca on his way out at Boro
TONY MOWBRAY'S delight at securing the services of Marvin Emnes for four more years was tempered by the news that he had lost his battle to keep Julio Arca on Teesside last night.[LNB] TONY MOWBRAY'S delight at securing the services of Marvin Emnes for four more years was tempered by the news that he had lost his battle to keep Julio Arca on Teesside last night.[LNB] After confirmation that Emnes had signed a new deal until the summer of 2015, Arca was heading away from the club's Rockliffe Park training headquarters for the last time.[LNB] Arca and his advisor had detailed talks with Mowbray and chairman Steve Gibson on Wednesday when he was offered a new contract on significantly reduced terms to those that expired on July 1.[LNB] The Argentine midfielder then discussed the situation with his partner before reaching the decision to turn his back on extending his five-year stay at the Riverside Stadium.[LNB] He has been training with Boro for the last fortnight and Mowbray had been trying to remain optimistic that he would still be a key member of his squad this season.[LNB] But Arca drove away with his boot bag after clearing out his locker yesterday lunch time having decided it was time to seek out a new challenge.[LNB] There is an option of heading back to Argentina to play for Boca Juniors, although he is open to the idea of staying in England and a Premier League return, with Wigan and Wolves thought to have expressed an interest.[LNB] Mowbray, speaking before the developments, was prepared to give the player time to decide his future after Arca was offered a deal to stay.[LNB] "We talked about the club's financial situation and what we could afford, where we want to be," said Mowbray. "He has choices to make. He is out of contract.[LNB] "I am not inside his mind. He will decide whether he wants to uproot, move house to a new challenge or whether he will play for us on a reduced salary. I am relaxed about it.[LNB] "He hasn't cost us anything apart from a bowl of soup at lunch time in the last couple of weeks, but Julio will want his future sorting. When we all come in with our club suits and ties on, Julio will be in Marks and Spencer's with his missus or shopping somewhere.[LNB] "He is a footballer and wants to play. He is fit enough and he has to decide where he wants to play now."[LNB] Mowbray must now work out ways of replacing Arca in his squad, but he also has every intention of trying to make Emnes one of the hottest prospects in the Championship.[LNB] The Dutch forward struggled to make an impact following his £3.2m move from Sparta Rotterdam three years ago, but having Mowbray as his manager for the final few months of last season has changed all of that.[LNB] Now the Middlesbrough manager is hoping the former Holland Under-21 international, who has been courted by Swansea City for the last eight months, can go on to become a success.[LNB] Mowbray said: "Emnes is a special talent. He can do things with the ball at his feet that other players can't. He sees us as the place where he wants to continue his development and I am looking forward to playing with him.[LNB] "I can't say what other managers didn't see in him. Football is about allowing players to spread their wings, express themselves. I don't know how he has been managed in the past. What I see in him is a player I like.[LNB] "If he wants it bad enough he could get to a much higher level and it will not be his talent that lets him down. He is a very introverted character and we have to try to bring the best out of him. We are trying to get the shackles off him."[LNB] With a number of players out of contract next season, Mowbray hopes the fact Emnes has committed to the club for the long term will help in his negotiations with other players he wants to stay around.[LNB] But over the next few weeks his priority is to strengthen his squad for the Championship and has admitted there is room for one or two loan deals following the sale of Leroy Lita to Swansea for £1.75m.[LNB] It is highly unlikely there will be any news faces for tomorrow's season opener with Portsmouth, but Mowbray will be working hard next week to inject some new blood in to his ranks.[LNB] "There's a little pot of money after Leroy's deal that will allow us to bring in one or two at a certain level," he said. "I have made lots of calls, but for Premier League clubs their seasons have not started yet because they have not had to put out their squads. When we tell them what salary we will pay it is probably not worth them letting players head out on loan.[LNB] "There are a few areas of the pitch that need strengthening. Centre-forwards need strengthening, centre-midfield undoubtedly and down the left side we are in need of players."[LNB]
