Source: Northern_Echo
Tuncay and Huth set for Stoke switch
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Gareth Southgate has no problem with striker Tuncay Sanli and defender Robert Huth leaving the club to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
The Boro manager this afternoon confirmed both men have been given permission to speak to Barclays Premier League side Stoke after the Teessiders accepted fees understood to total around £11m for two of their most marketable assets.
Turkey international Tuncay, 27, and 25-year-old German club-mate Huth have both travelled to the Potteries to undergo medicals and discuss terms.
Today's developments came as no surprise after weeks of speculation surrounding the pair, and while Southgate would ideally like to have kept both players, he has always known Boro's financial restrictions and their individual ambitions meant their departures were almost inevitable.
Southgate said: "Tuncay is an international player, he wants to play in the Premier League.
"He has loved his time here, I think, but the challenge of this Championship promotion push isn't one that he wants at the moment.
"I don't criticise him for that - he has got a World Cup year, as has Robert, and that's something that's at the forefront of both of their minds.
"I understand that and I also understand what we have to do as a football club, so there are no issues with either player from my point of view."
