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Woodgate makes Boro loan move permanent
LONDON (AFP) - England defender Jonathan Woodgate has handed Middlesbrough a huge boost by agreeing to transform his season-long loan move from Real Madrid into a permanent transfer.
Woodgate had been considering his options for several months with Arsenal and Newcastle among the clubs reportedly monitoring his situation now that he finally seems to have overcome the injury problems which blighted his time in Spain.
But the 27-year-old has decided to stay at his home town club and sign a four-year deal, which will mean Boro paying Real a fee of ten million euros (nearly seven million pounds).
Woodgate's decision will come as a relief to Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who is currently attempting to persuade another key member of his squad, Australian striker Mark Viduka, to stay at the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
With a player of Woodgate's calibre agreeing to stay, it will be easier for Southgate to persuade the likes of Viduka that they can achieve things at the club, as well as helping to attract new players.
Woodgate arrived back in England having endured a miserable run of luck with injuries which had limited him to only a handful of games for Real.
However, having embarked upon a specially-designed fitness programme, he has returned to full fitness and his best form, missing only eight of the 41 games Boro have played since his arrival.
His composed performances earned him a recall to the England squad for the friendly defeat by Spain in February, although injuries subsequently prevented him taking part in Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra.
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