Gareth Southgate is hopeful Jonathan Woodgate will act as a magnet for players.
Gareth Southgate is hopeful Jonathan Woodgate's decision to stay on Teesside will enable him to bring other top-class players to Middlesbrough.Boro completed the permanent capture of the classy defender on Thursday and chief executive Keith Lamb compared the deal to the one which brought Southgate to the club in 2001.
Having wrapped up the capture of Woodgate, Boro chief Southgate can turn his attentions to other areas of his squad and he is hopeful the presence of the England international will act as a magnet for some big names.
"Players want to play alongside good players and alongside top players, and having somebody like Jonathan at your club is a great attraction for other people who might want to come and play for us," said Southgate.
"Lots of people might have looked at it as the season went on and thought we would lose him to somewhere else. It is fantastic for us that we have managed to secure him.
"He made his mind up a while ago. He said to me he did not want to wait until it was perceived there were no other options for him."
