Boro talk terms with Schwarzer
by Mairianne Reardon, 13 May 2008
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed that new contract talks with keeper Mark Schwarzer have started.
The 35-year-old, who holds the all-time record for caps with the club and has been their number one goalkeeper since he joined in 1996, will be a free agent at the end of June. He is keen to extend his career beyond the 2010 World Cup.
But Southgate remains guarded as to whether Boro can offer the Australia international the minimum two-year deal he is after.
“Yes, we’re in talks with Mark and, as I’ve said with all the players (whose futures are undecided), they have to want to stay and we have to want them here," he told the Evening Gazette.
“If those two situations exist then we can look at negotiating things.
“That’s the same for Mark. Gaizka Mendieta and Dong-Gook Lee are moving on, the others are to be dealt with.”
Schwarzer was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in 2004 and transfer-listed by his own request during the 2005/6 season, but returned to pledge himself as the club's number one by signing a three-year contract in January 2005.