Source: Northern_Echo
Mowbray is pegged back by lack of transfer budget
MIDDLESBROUGH have held a series of productive talks with Belgium international Faris Haroun, but Tony Mowbray admits unrealistic financial expectations are making it difficult to seal a deal for the attacking midfielder.[LNB] Haroun, a 25-year-old with Belgian side Germinal Beerschot, has spent the last three days on Teesside. He watched Saturday's 2-2 draw with Portsmouth at the Riverside, and toured Boro's Rockliffe Park training ground before meeting club officials to talk terms.[LNB] Those talks have been positive, but Mowbray feels that within the wider footballing world, there is a general lack of understanding about Boro's current financial position.[LNB] In the past, players and agents were guaranteed a healthy pay day when they signed on the dotted line with the Teessiders. Today, with chairman Steve Gibson still looking to trim the wage bill further despite the departure of a number of high earners, that is no longer the case.[LNB] "We're trying to add to our squad and improve the depth of it, but it's proving difficult," said Mowbray, who takes his side to Walsall this evening for a Carling Cup first-round tie.[LNB] "Maybe Middlesbrough have a reputation for doing good deals and paying good money. Over the years, the chairman has been very generous and spent a few quid on this football club. But at this moment, we're not in that position.[LNB] "When people come knocking on our door looking for a deal, they expect riches to be laid at their feet. That's not going to happen. Deals are proving difficult, but hopefully we'll be able to add one or two to the squad over the next couple of weeks."[LNB] One of those additions should be Julio Arca, with the Argentinian having agreed the terms of a new deal on Saturday evening.[LNB] However, an outstanding issue relating to Arca's previous Middlesbrough contract remains unresolved, and an agreement will not be reached until a compromise is brokered.[LNB] "The saga continues," said Mowbray, who had all but admitted defeat before Arca had a change of heart at the weekend. "It's still sitting in limbo, but it will be resolved very soon, I'm pretty sure.[LNB] "I like Julio as a player, and he was our Player of the Season last year from the fans. If he's back playing in a Boro shirt this season, it will be great to see. If he's not, we move on. At the moment, it rumbles on."[LNB] Boro could do with Arca this evening, as they are without five senior players because of a combination of international duty and ineligibility.[LNB] Barry Robson, Rhys Williams, Tarmo Kink and Scott McDonald are representing their country, while the terms of Carl Ikeme's loan deal from Wolves preclude him from appearing in the Carling Cup.[LNB] Mowbray's attacking options are particularly scarce, with Jonathan Franks and Lee Miller tussling for the right to partner Marvin Emnes up front.[LNB] "My concern going into the game is a lack of strikers without Scott," admitted Mowbray. "Marvin got off the mark at the weekend, but he's not really a natural goalscorer.[LNB] "After that, we don't really have anyone with a track record for scoring goals in the team. We go into this game without a proven goalscorer at all. Let's hope somebody steps up to the mark and can put the ball into the net."[LNB] At least Merouane Zemmama will be available, as the strict religious guidelines he adheres to during Ramadan are relaxed whenever he travels to an away game.[LNB] Zemmama is allowed to break his fast if he travels more than 85km in order to work, and having appeared as a stoppage-time substitute on Saturday, the Moroccan is expected to return to the starting line-up at the Bescot Stadium.[LNB] "Ramadan is a difficult period in terms of managing Merouane's workload," said Mowbray, who presided over an embarrassing cup defeat at the hands of League Two side Burton Albion in January. "It's not so much playing in the games, it's just the issue of his energy levels and how he recovers.[LNB] "He's having to get up in the middle of night to eat the food he's able to eat, and he's not fully hydrated throughout the day. That increases the potential for injuries to occur.[LNB] "But he's in the equation to feature at Walsall. Scott, Barry and Rhys are not available, so we're looking for other options and Merouane comes into that."[LNB] Danny Coyne will make a rare start in the absence of Ikeme, and tonight's match will mark the 37-year-old's 500th appearance in league and cup games.[LNB]
