Boro keeper set for Juve talks

May 11 2008 by Steve Brown, Sunday Sun

MARK SCHWARZER is set for talks with Juventus TOMORROW, according to reports in Italy.

The Middlesbrough keeper is out of contract this summer after nego- tiations over a new deal stalled.

The Aussie wanted two years, Boro offered one — and though Gareth Southgate last week revealed he may re-evaluate the club’s proposal in the coming weeks, that may come too late.

Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon has struggled with a back injury all season and No 2 Emanuele Belardi is not rated by the Bianconeri; coach Claudio Ranieri has targeted Schwarzer as the latter’s replacement.

Schwarzer — a free agent target for Bayern Munich, Fiorentina and Celtic — would prefer to be first-choice wherever he ends up, but the lure of Juve’s likely return to the Champions League next season could turn his head.