Schwarzer Snubs 'Boro
by Danny WrightMiddlesbrough have offered goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer a one-year contract which has been promptly rejected by the Australian.
Schwarzer is out of contract next summer and the 34-year-old had hoped to earn a two-year deal in an attempt to pledge his future to the Riverside club.
However, Boro were unwilling to meet Schwarzer's demands and the snub will fuel inevitable transfer speculation about the high-rated stopper, who has spent ten years on Teesside.
Manager Gareth Southgate sympathised with Schwarzer, telling Sky Sports News:
"He wants to play through to the next World Cup (in 2010), so his concern is that if he signs a one-year extension and finds himself out of contract in the summer before the next tournament, it could affect his chances of being involved,"
"I can totally understand where he's coming from and, as a manager, it's something I'm going to have to think about," he added.
"Can I offer him that extra year that he wants? He's a fit lad but, when you're at the age that he is, none of us have a crystal ball to know how long players can go on for."
The news comes as a blow to Boro fans, who will no doubt be saddened by the news that their inspirational keeper could be on his way out next summer.
Schwarzer had been linked with a move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich earlier in the year following the departure of talisman Mark Viduka.
Schwarzer is out of contract next summer and the 34-year-old had hoped to earn a two-year deal in an attempt to pledge his future to the Riverside club.
However, Boro were unwilling to meet Schwarzer's demands and the snub will fuel inevitable transfer speculation about the high-rated stopper, who has spent ten years on Teesside.
Manager Gareth Southgate sympathised with Schwarzer, telling Sky Sports News:
"He wants to play through to the next World Cup (in 2010), so his concern is that if he signs a one-year extension and finds himself out of contract in the summer before the next tournament, it could affect his chances of being involved,"
"I can totally understand where he's coming from and, as a manager, it's something I'm going to have to think about," he added.
"Can I offer him that extra year that he wants? He's a fit lad but, when you're at the age that he is, none of us have a crystal ball to know how long players can go on for."
The news comes as a blow to Boro fans, who will no doubt be saddened by the news that their inspirational keeper could be on his way out next summer.
Schwarzer had been linked with a move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich earlier in the year following the departure of talisman Mark Viduka.
images - precisionfootball.com
posted by Danny @ 9:55 am
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