Smith: Now Boro Lead The Chase …
Times: Middlesbrough are believed to have agreed a fee of about £6 million with Manchester United for Alan Smith.
However, the transfer is far from a formality because Smith, who is on holiday, needs to be persuaded that he should swap Old Trafford for the Riverside Stadium. Middlesbrough’s next task is to hold talks with Smith and his agent.
Smith, 26, has been offered for sale over the summer to several clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, and has expressed anxiety about his future. He has two years left on his contract and is unhappy about the club’s apparent unwillingness to offer him a new deal, while he also shown concern about a lack of communication from Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager. The money would allow Ferguson to bring in another top striker.
Smith has scored seven goals in 61 league appearances since he joined from Leeds United for £7 million three years ago, but started only six league matches last season after recovering from a broken leg. He hoped to be offered a new contract after subsequently proving his fitness and was offered on loan to several clubs in January, but chose to stay put.
Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager, is attempting to strengthen his attacking options after Mark Viduka left for Newcastle United on a free transfer this summer. Jérémie Aliadière, the 24-year-old Arsenal forward, was signed last week for an initial fee of about £1.5 million.
