 Viduka's first season with Boro was interrupted by injury |
Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has insisted the club want to keep striker Mark Viduka, who has been linked with a move to Newcastle. The 29-year-old Viduka scored seven goals in 21 games for Boro last season.
"I like Freddy Shepherd (Newcastle chairman), but I've not spoken to him about Viduka," said Gibson.
"We want to keep Viduka and we intend to keep him. To lose Mark would weaken us and we're not prepared to do that," Gibson told the Boro website.
Australian international Viduka joined Boro from Leeds in a �4.5m a year ago, but played just 21 games in an injury-interrupted campaign.
Gibson also revealed Boro had not made a move for Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt, though the club are hoping to strenghten their midfield.
Gibson said: "Middlesbrough have not made an approach to Newcastle about Nicky Butt and nor do we intend to do so.
"Steve McClaren, Keith Lamb and Don Mackay are working their socks off to bring in at least one quality midfielder before the start of the new season, and possibly two."
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Match of the Day - Post-match interviews