Boro want Brown if Joe's a no-go
Middlesbrough are reportedly planning to switch their attention
from Manchester City's Joey Barton to Michael Brown of Fulham.Boro
boss Gareth Southgate is seeking to replace veteran midfielder
George Boateng this summer and, according to the Daily Mirror, has
identified controversial City star Barton as his main summer
transfer target.
Barton is almost certain to leave City after he was suspended by
the club following a training-ground altercation with team-mate
Ousmane Dabo, but it is thought he would prefer a switch to
Everton.
With Newcastle also in the running to sign the £5.5million England
man, Southgate is prepared to accept defeat and launch a raid for
Fulham midfielder Brown instead.
It remains unclear if Brown, who captained the side under Chris
Coleman last term, is part of new boss Lawrie Sanchez's plans at
Craven Cottage.
Sanchez could be willing to offload the former Spurs and Sheffield
United player to pave the way for a move for Aston Villa midfielder
Steven Davis.
Sanchez is an admirer of Davis having worked with him in the
Northern Ireland set-up and the 22-year-old could be willing to
leave Villa Park after slipping behind Stiliyan Petrov and Craig
Gardner in Martin O'Neill's pecking order.
QPR midfielder Lee Cook is also on Sanchez's summer shopping list,
so Brown could find himself surplus to requirements and may jump at
the chance to join Southgate's squad.
