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Wheater exit talk latest
Middlesbrough, 15:22, June 21, 2009 ,
Middlesbrough defender David Wheater is expected to snub interest from Aston Villa this summer to stay at the Riverside.
The 22-year-old has intimated his desire to stay on Teesside despite Boro crashing down to the Championship but that has not stopped Villa making an enquiry for the England Under-21 international.
Boss Martin O'Neill wants a replacement for the retired Martin Laursen and Wheater was among the candidates, but he seems set to stay in the north east.
Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb said in the Evening Gazette: "We're looking forward to David becoming the cornerstone of our defence in future years.
"We're absolutely delighted that David has come out publicly and said that he's staying at Middlesbrough. We have a fight on our hands and David is up for the fight."