Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan considers Wright
GORDON STRACHAN is seriously considering bringing experienced goalkeeper Richard Wright to Middlesbrough as Brad Jones' replacement. Strachan is on the lookout for a new shot-stopper to fill the void vacated by Jones' departure to Liverpool and has been quoted more than £2m by Crystal Palace for Julian Speroni. But the emergence of Jason Steele, 20, has left Strachan contemplating trying to lure a cheaper option, with Wright's availability as a free agent providing a tempting alternative. The 32-year-old was released by Ipswich Town at the end of last season and he has been training with his former manager George Burley at Palace. With Speroni looking increasingly likely to be priced out of a move to Teesside, Strachan is contemplating making the three-time former England international an offer. Strachan refused to name names yesterday, but admitted replacing Jones is a priority before the transfer window closes. I have two good goalkeepers, he said. Danny played the first game, Jason played the next two. It is fair we have three goalkeepers. It's not right that we would rely on one of the youth team goalkeepers. We will be looking for someone to come in and provide competition. Three goalkeepers is needed. Jason has always been in our thoughts. That's why we could think about Brad moving on. Jason has been effective in training, Danny is steady and is good with the young goalkeepers. It's right that we should have three keepers here. Steele only turned 20 on Wednesday, but has adapted comfortably to life in the first team with two solid displays at Chesterfield and Leicester. Strachan is already a big fan. He needs that bit of luck. He needs to be super fit to be able to take bumps and bruises and he needs to work hard, he said. It's up to him how far he goes. I have come across a player who had an even bigger character at 19 than Jason Chris Kirkland. I gave him his debut at Coventry and I sold him for £9m. Strachan continues to press ahead with his pursuits of other targets and he should complete the loan signing of Sunderland defender Matt Kilgallon later today. After a week of negotiations, and a failure to agree a three-month loan deal for the player, Sunderland have accepted a season-long proposal after Boro aborted interested in signing Lee Naylor. Kilgallon was at Rockliffe Park yesterday and Strachan said: I tried to get him in January and he went to Newcastle for talks before joining Sunderland. We can't afford to buy him so we got him on loan for the year. Matt is fit. We had to take a good look at him. If you hear that someone has had an injection in their back then you have to make sure everything was going to plan. It's nice to have some experience in there and he is left footed as well. He knows the division and that came in to our mind. We like to have people who know it and we also like people who want to be successful in it. Strachan is also looking to add another centremidfielder to his ranks on loan after Kevin Thomson followed Willo Flood and Rhys Williams on the treatment table. We are in talks with clubs about players, said Strachan, whose side face Sheffield United at the Riverside on Sunday. You tend to tread water with a few things but I don't think we will have any one else in by Sunday. Mido and Didier Digard are working on moves to Ajax and Nice respectively.