Southgate shakes up Boro plans

After a season of struggle last term, Gareth Southgate is ready to stamp his mark on the Middlesbrough squad this summer.

Boro have looked to home grown talent in recent seasons to help them build a platform which will see them challenge in the top half of the Premier League, with the likes of Stewart Downing, David Wheater, Seb Hines and Lee Cattermole establishing themselves in the squad.

Based around them have been experienced pros such as Mark Schwarzer and George Boateng, but both of those have been allowed to leave by Southgate and the manager is also set to move on a couple of his younger players - which many punters eyeing a free £25 bet may consider a bold move.

Boro have agreed a fee with Wigan for the services of Cattermole and now Southgate has admitted that he is likely to allow the highly-rated Adam Johnson move out on loan again.

Having brought in Brazilian Afonso Alves during the January transfer window and young French midfielder Didier Digard, there looks to be a changing of the guard taking place at the Riverside.