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Boro stopper set for Italian job
Middlesbrough, 13:23, June 16, 2009 ,
Middlesbrough skipper Emanuel Pogatetz is a reported transfer target of Italian giants Roma, according to the player's representatives.
The Austrian international defender has already revealed his intentions to stick with the Teessiders for the final season of his current deal in a bid to get them back into the Premier League at the first attempt following their relegation. However a spokesman from the agency which represents Pogatetz insists Roma would be interested in taking him to the Stadio Olimpico.
Boro would be keen to keep Pogatetz at the Riverside, but an offer of £4million would probably be too good to turn down, while the Serie A outfit will wait until the player fully recovers from the knee surgery he underwent in May before making a concrete bid.
The spokesman said: "We had talks with a Roma delegation in Carinthia last week.
"Roma want to wait for Emanuel to recover from his surgery. That is understandable that they don't want to buy an injured player. But a deal could be done in August."