Woodgate Reveals Middlesbrough Were Priced Out Of Move For Reading Ace

Woodgate Reveals Middlesbrough Were Priced Out Of Move For Reading Ace

Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate has confirmed he was interested in Reading forward George Puscas before he joined the Royals this summer.

The 23-year-old moved to the Madejski Stadium from Inter Milan in a £7.5m deal last month and has gone on to score three goals in his first six appearances for his new club. Woodgate said he scouted Puscas when he played for Romania at the Euro Under 21 Championships in June, but Boro were unable to stump up the cash for him:

“I saw Puscas straight away, he was on loan last year at Palermo from Inter Milan, (he’s) a really top player. To bring him here we’d have had to spend a lot of money. We couldn’t do that type of deal. Reading have done it, fair play – he’s a very very good player.”

Middlesbrough will come up against their former target tomorrow afternoon, and they will be hoping that he doesn’t get a sight on goal during the game.

Both Boro and Reading have struggled for consistency at the start of this season, with the Royals sitting just two places above the Teessiders in 16th. Woodgate will be looking to grab the three points and leapfrog ahead of their opponents in the table.