Southgate pledges prudence
21 Dec 2007 - 07:32:49
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has pledged to spend wisely in the transfer window despite the club's precarious position near the foot of the table.
Southgate has yet to discover how much money is available to strengthen his squad in January, but insists he will not be held to ransom by inflated transfer fees.
Boro have been linked with an £8million move for unsettled Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe in recent weeks.
"I have to see what's available in terms of players we want to bring in who we feel would strengthen us," he said.
"But we are all very conscious that it is far from being the ideal time to do business.
"The transfer windows as they are make the transfer market very difficult to deal in.
"Whether you can get the ideal solution to your problems in January without paying well over the odds for them is very questionable.
"We want to strengthen if we possibly can because we want to do that at all times, and we certainly don't think, because we have had a couple of results, there doesn't need to be any improvement.
"Whatever the scenario had been, we are very conscious we have to do the right thing and get the right players through the door at the right figures.
"Having said that, in the past, when the right sort of people have been available, the chairman here has been fantastic in making it happen."