Alves signing proves ambition

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has revealed that he feels the signing of Afonso Alves has proved his sides growing ambition as they smashed their own transfer record for landing the Brazilian for £12 million.

Alves said: "We have to thank the support of the chairman for that. People have questioned the ambition of the club, but the ambition of the club still burns very strongly.

"It takes time to build a side and we have to build piece by piece, and we feel we are well on the way to doing that.

"Slowly but surely, we are improving as a team, and we feel Afonso coming is another piece of that jigsaw."