Boro wait on Distin and Emerton bids
Monday, 14 August 2006 10:46Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is waiting for a response on bids made for Manchester City defender Sylvain Distin and Blackburn winger Brett Emerton.
Southgate has only brought Julio Arca from Sunderland to the Riverside since taking over from Steve McClaren this summer and is keen to bolster his squad.
Distin, the 28-year-old French centre-back, was among the squad to travel to China for a pre-season tour with City, and the club revealed their intention to keep him at Eastlands.
Boro and Portsmouth have been linked with a move for the defender, with a report on official website www.mfc.co.uk confirming a bid by Southgate.
Southgate said after the goalless draw with Chievo at the weekend: 'We're very close with a couple. Hopefully once we get past the weekend we should have some news. We've got bids in and it's just a case of waiting to hear back from the clubs.'
Emerton, 27, played for Australia at the World Cup in Germany during the summer after his third season at Ewood Park.
