Boro target Green as Schwarzer replacement

The Aussie keeper and his agent Barry Silkman have rejected a contract offer from Boro - with a switch to Manchester United remaining a strong possibility - and he is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with interested clubs next month.

With the impasse over negotiations between the two there is a chance that Schwarzer will be sold at a knock down price in January if a suitable replacement can be found.

And Green is believed to be high on manager Steve McClaren's list of replacements having worked with him when the England squad have met up in the past.

The chances of McClaren landing his man as early as January look slim after the player, who has a contract until 2007, recently insisted that he would be unwilling to turn his back on Norwich until the summer at least.

By waiting until the end of the season Green could come at a much cheaper price with the Canaries battling to avoid relegation in their first year back in the Premiership.

As things stand, it is understood Norwich would contemplate selling if an offer over £4m was tabled.

It is unlikely that Middlesbrough would be willing to pay such a fee at this stage, but January appears to be the best opportunity for the Teessiders to conclude a deal.

If they were to wait, and retain the services of Schwarzer until May and work on trying to find a solution to the contract wrangle that has ran for months, then champions Arsenal are sure to make a move for Green.

The Gunners are also looking to strengthen in the goalkeeper department with criticism hurled Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia's way after some costly errors.

Green has his future panned out and he wants to stay in the Premiership if Norwich go down. He would prefer a move to Highbury and Arsene Wenger rates him highly.

Schwarzer, meanwhile, is nowhere nearer to signing a new contract and the chance of the 32-year-old departing grow stronger by the day.

Middlesbrough's first-choice shot-stopper claimed last night that there is a chance he could be sold when the transfer window opens on January 1.

Middlesbrough insist 'negotiations are ongoing' and that they are still hopeful an agreement can be reached. But Schwarzer believes it is up to the club to come to him with an offer he deems suitable.

"I've got no intentions of leaving in January but you never know in football. Things can change very quickly, the club can sell me, though I can decide whether I go or not," said Schwarzer, who arrived from Bradford in 1997.

"I've declined the offer, there's nothing else to it, things are as they are, there's been no progress and it's as simple as that.

"That's the way things are in football, contracts run out and you either agree a new one or you don't.

"When it comes down to deciding, the club have to make a decision on what they want to offer a player, pure and simple."

Middlesbrough are still waiting to learn the extent of Mark Viduka and Chris Riggott's latest injury set-backs. Both players picked up back and hamstring injuries respectively against Aston Villa on Saturday and are major doubts for the Boxing Day trip to Birmingham.

l Stewart Downing has already gone clear in the club's Player of the Year award having received 42 per cent of the votes. The winger is well ahead of second place Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (13 per cent). Voting will not close until March 12.

l Birmingham midfielder Robbie Savage believes Blackburn have made a bid for him.

Speculation has been rife in recent weeks that the Welshman would be on the move to join up with former international boss Mark Hughes at Ewood Park.

And when put on the spot, Savage admitted a bid has been made, saying: ''I think they have, yes.''

He attempted to distance himself from speculation with reports indicating Rovers have made a bid in the region of £2.2m.

''I had a bad week last week, with all the press speculation," Savage said.

"All I can do is keep playing on a Saturday and let the press do the talking.''

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