A New Twist

A new twist has emerged in the ongoing Alan Smith story. Yesterday, Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, gave Boro permission to speak to United striker Alan Smith.
Boro have shown keen interest all summer in the former Leeds man and stories in the press have told how first a deal was on then off and now back on again. Whilst interest in Smith has been expressed by a number of clubs, Boro have been at the forefront after the club announced that they would be prepared to pay United the £6 million that they demand for Smith.
With United bringing in several new attacking players in the summer and the ongoing speculation over the signing of Carlos Tevez, its hard to see where Smith will fit in at United. The player, himself, has remained adamant that he wishes to stay and fight for his place at United, but whilst Ferguson has not directly told Smith that he wants him to leave, he hasn't yet offered him a new contract, and looks set not to do so. He has dropped enough hints to suggest that Smith doesn't fit into the club's plans for the future and this latest development may just tip the scales for Smith as he looks to his future. It has also been reported that Boro boss Gareth Southgate would be prepared to promise Smith a regular first team place in order to lure him to Teesside, however this may push out some of the other strikers who have surely been told they must fight for their place; the likes of Yakubu, Dong Gook Lee, Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli.

In other news yesterday, Luke Young passed a medical at the Riverside with flying colours and is set to sign a contract within the next couple of days. Young was in the stands at the TFM Darlington Arena to watch Boro record their first win of the pre-season schedule, where youngster Tom Craddock netted 2 goals to give Boro a 2-0 win.