Middlesbrough rail against Arsenal gossip
How many Middlesbrough fans were aware when they sold Mark Schwarzer to Fulham in the summer of 2008 that they had three goalkeepers still on their books that would attract the interest of the Premier League's Big Four?
The Australian's immediate successor Ross Turnbull was snapped up by Chelsea in the summer of 2009, his compatriot Brad Jones was brought to Liverpool earlier this year and there have been rumours that current number one (okay, he wears 30) Jason Steele would become the fourth shot-stopper in four years to leave the Riverside for a Premier League side.
The 20-year-old academy graduate was linked with a £4 million January move to Arsenal, who of course also attempted to make Mark Schwarzer the third ex-Boro keeper employed by a Big Four team a few months ago, over the weekend but the Teessiders are adamant that he's going nowhere.
Chief executive Keith Lamb was first out of the blocks with this declaration on the club's official website: "Jason Steele is not for sale - at any price. The story is complete nonsense. We have no intention of selling Jason for £4 million or any other fee. He is a massive part of the future of this football club, so the idea of selling him is not on our agenda."
The Championship strugglers attempted to drum home the point by having manager Tony Mowbray dismiss the claims too. He said: "I think it's vitally important that we don't sell our assets, of which Jason is certainly one. We don't need to sell our young players. They can get us back in the Premier League if we give them time to fulfil their potential here."
Back to the drawing board for Arsenal then, assuming there was any substance to the speculation to start with. Who do you think the Gunners should look to sign between the sticks? Or has Lukasz Fabianski earned the right to be trusted? Give your verdict below...
Published: 1 Dec 2010
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