Did Southgate Blow The Chance?

Last updated : 27 January 2009 By Boro Mad


The 23-year-old has completed his switch from Crystal Palace to the JJB Stadium four days after undergoing a medical on Teesside.

Boro hoped they had struck a decisive blow on Thursday when they agreed a fee, understood to be in the region of £2million, with Palace and opened talks with him.

However, he left the club's Rockliffe Park training headquarters without having signed and Boro's chances dwindled.

Southgate: "It's disappointing to see Ben go to Wigan because we have put a couple of months into trying to make it happen.

"I think he would have slotted in well here and I'm sure he would have enjoyed himself.

"But we have to move on. We are looking at other possibilities. We have ideas, but will keep them close to our chest for the time being.

"The reality of these situations is that by making them public, you lose players."

But WHAT put him off when he visited Boro?

The media reported the proposed deal for weeks ... and Southgate knows it!