Steed Malbranque has left Gareth Southgate fuming after refusing to discuss a move to Middlesbrough.
Boro finally agreed a £4m fee with Fulham after lengthy negotiations over the wantaway French midfielder.
But just weeks after Robert Huth’s £5m move from Chelsea collapsed when the German defender failed a medical, Boro’s transfer curse struck again.
Malbranque refused point blank to enter talks with the Teessiders as he holds out for a move to another London club, and Southgate said: “We agreed a fee with Fulham but the player didn’t fancy it and he didn’t want to speak with us. We’re only interested in players who want to play for us.”
