Middlesbrough paid Heerenven around £12million to sign Brazilian international striker Alfonso Alves on Thursday just hours before the January transfer shut up and Boro manager Gareth Southgate is visibly delighted with the club record signing.
Sky Sports quotes Southgate as saying:
I think it’s very satisfying when so much effort has been put in, and I’ve got to say the chairman and Keith Lamb have been fantastic. I’ve heard people question the ambition of this club over the last year, and I know we’ve done deals going out to help finance things, but I’ve had terrific backing from them in the transfer market. The ambition is still there. We’ve got a plan. It takes time to build a club up, but that’s what we’re trying to do. This signing will be a real boost and give great momentum to our season. I think it will excite the fans. He’s a player with a fantastic pedigree and people are really looking forward to seeing him play.
So Boro are looking at the long tem prospects. But what exactly is Middlesbrough’s ambition? Surely not to finish in a UEFA Cup spot next season?!