TUNCAY SANLI insists he will be playing football in England next season but for the first time has publicly admitted it will not be in a Middlesbrough shirt.
Blackburn, Everton and Liverpool have all shown an interest in the versatile 27- year-old who was last month voted Middlesbrough supporters’ player of the season and players’ player of the year.
There had been strong suggestions the forward was interested in making a return to his former club Fenerbahce, but he has now declared his determination to make a success of his spell in the Premier League; claiming he is in no hurry to make a return to his homeland.
Liverpool had reportedly been front-runners to secure Tuncay’s signature but while Rafa Benitez’ summer spending has not yet been curbed by financial uncertainties, the likes of Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as more likely destinations.
A fee of around £8m will be required to secure the services of the Turkey skipper.
Seven goals saw him end the campaign as Boro’s leading scorer and several Premier League managers have added him to their wish-list.
With Stewart Downing’s foot injury likely to delay any sale of the England winger, the transfer of Tuncay would bring some welcome funds to the club as Southgate begins his summer restructure.
Tuncay denied he was ready to link up with his former club in Turkey and remains focused on furthering his career in the English top flight.
“My team have been relegated but my aim is to remain in the Premier League,” he revealed.
“I love Fenerbahce and if one day I return to Turkey, it will be with Fenerbahce.”
Tuncay played in Turkey’s 1-0 defeat to France in last Friday’s friendly international in Lyon and is currently undergoing treatment on a back injury at their summer training camp in Switzerland.
Adam Johnson was watched by a host of Premier League scouts as England U21s concluded their preparations for the European Championships with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Azerbaijan on Monday.
Johnson again demonstrated his ability to operate on either flank in a performance that provided the ideal confidence boost ahead of Stuart Pearce and his squad making the trip to Sweden.
Johnson is a reported target for Fulham with manager Roy Hodgson also believed to be interested in taking Gary O’Neil in a double transfer costing around £8m.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here