Ince a Claret - very unlikely

Last updated : 03 July 2002 By Tony Scholes

The player in question this time is Paul Ince who has turned down the offer of a new contract at Middlesbrough because he wants to move back to the North West. Although I am sure he is a player that Stan would love to bring in the chances of it happening can at best be described as remote.

Quite where Ince will end up is interesting but he does want to join a North West club. The Liverpool or Manchester clubs seem to be out of the question and Sam Allardyce has said that as much as he would like to sign him he has already brought in other signings for midfield.

Having been offered a new deal at Middlesbrough he can obviously still command a Premiership style salary and that should rule out any club playing in the Nationwide League. He was a regular in the first team last season and the 34 year-old midfielder will be hoping to continue at that level.

It will be interesting to see where he does go but despite the speculation this week and the previous links with him a move to Turf Moor does not seem all that likely. Now whether we will still have Gazza is a different story all together.