Tony Mowbray guards against vultures

Jan 1 2011 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

TONY Mowbray will not allow the vultures circling around the Riverside to strip Middlesbrough down to bare bones during the January transfer window despite the need to slash costs.

Mowbray has to trim the wage bill if Boro are going to remain on solid financial ground, although he is also clinging on to the hope the team can mount a late promotion challenge.

It is an extremely precarious balancing act, with senior players like David Wheater, Gary O’ Neil and Julio Arca, all available for transfer as long as Boro receive an acceptable offer his month.

All three are on Premier League wages which cannot be sustained in the Championship and, despite their key roles, Mowbray cannot cling on to them if a decent offer is made before the close of the window.

Wheater appears to be the most likely to leave this month, but despite reported interest from a number of top flight clubs – including Newcastle United – Mowbray will fight to ensure the deal benefits Boro.

He said: “Premiership wages are hurting this club. We’ll see whether outgoings bring in money. But we want to keep our best young players, and if a club comes in for one of our players the deal must suit all parties.”

Boro would want a substantial sum for Wheater – probably in the region of £2m – before they would consider parting with the home grown central defender.

“If big players do leave it is the fallout from being relegated from the Premier League,” added Mowbray.

“We have to get to a base level where income and expenditure marry up. The chairman has done amazing things for this club, and will continue to do so, but we have to have a level of reality.”