Hoyte the top target to fill Young void
Aug 8 2008 by Philip Tallentire, Evening Gazette


GARETH Southgate is hoping to tie up a deal to bring Justin Hoyte to Boro in the next 72 hours.

The Arsenal full-back has been identified as Luke Young’s long-term replacement following the controversial sale of the England international to Aston Villa in a shock £6m move.

Mauritz Volz of Fulham and Bristol City’s Bradley Orr have also been linked, but Hoyte is the No.1 target.

The sale of Young just nine days before the start of the new season has sent shockwaves throughout Teesside and the Gazette’s online message boards have received unprecedented levels of reaction from fans, almost all of it criticising the club’s decision to sell.

But chairman Steve Gibson today defended the sale, saying: "The fans need to know that we will only do what’s right for the football club in the short term, medium term and the long term.

"Selling a 29-year-old full-back for £6m a year after we bought him for £2.5m, and doing so in the knowledge that we will replace him, is right for the football club in the short term, medium term and the long term. We’re already busy working on bringing in a replacement."

The Gazette understands the fee for Young was £5.5m down plus £250,000 after 30 appearances and a further £250,000 after 60 appearances, meaning the club will potentially realise a £4m profit.

Southgate reassured the fans, saying: "Sometimes an offer can be one that makes it very difficult to turn down. It’s important we’re able to replace him very quickly."

"I’m very relaxed about it," he added. "I know that come next Saturday we’ll have a strong team and a strong squad."

England Under-21 international Hoyte, 23, spent a season on loan with Sunderland in 2005/06 and signed a new long-term deal in May but is not a first team regular. He’s a versatile defender who can play across the back four.

Speaking earlier this week, he said: "This season is a very important season for me. I did not feature much last season which was a big disappointment for me, so obviously I just want to play as many games as I can."