Middlesbrough take on Tuncay
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Article summary
Middlesbrough FC are to sign former Fenerbahçe SK striker Tuncay Şanlı as a free agent having lost Australia forward Mark Viduka to Newcastle United FC.
Article body
Middlesbrough FC are to sign former Fenerbahçe SK striker Tuncay Şanlı as a free agent.
Personal terms
The 25-year-old Turkish international agreed personal terms with the club on Tuesday after Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb met him in Istanbul. "Tuncay will travel to Teesside next week to take a medical," said Lamb. "He has agreed personal terms and the deal is a free transfer as the player is out of contract." A statement on the Fenerbahçe website thanked the player for his efforts and wished him luck for his career in England.
'If I get there'
Having scored 13 goals in 43 international appearances for Turkey, Tuncay made his reputation by scoring a hat-trick in Fenerbahçe's 3-0 UEFA Champions League win against Manchester United FC in December 2004. He told uefa.com recently that he was planning to move abroad, saying: "If you play abroad you can develop your game, learn a new language and experience different cultures. It is difficult to explain because I am not playing in Europe yet. I will face up to these challenges when I get there - if I get there." Middlesbrough are also set to sign French striker Jérémié Aliadière from Arsenal FC having lost Australian international Mark Viduka to Newcastle United FC.
