During his first season in English football, Tuncay Sanli did not exactly set the world alight in the way he may have wanted. The man nicknamed Braveheart by the Fenerbahce fans who idolise him in his homeland showed plenty of effort and bagged eight goals but inconsistency plagued both him and the team as a whole. However, the ability and enthusiasm was plain to see and put many of his peers to shame. Gareth Southgate never doubted his qualities and it was therefore a massive blow to lose the Turkish international at the start of the 2008/9 season.

Since his return, Tuncay has repaid the faith shown in him by his manager by being one of Boro’s most consistent performers with the goals again flowing, including a match-winning brace at Villa Park and a clever finish at the KC. The majority of Middlesbrough fans always saw the potential of the forward who once scored a hat-trick against Man U in the Champions League but no doubt all are delighted that arguably the signing of the 2007/8 close season is finally living up to his reputation. A recent international treble will have only added to his growing confidence.

Such has been the rise of Tuncay this season that latest rumours have Chelsea bidding £8M to secure his services in the January transfer window. The Blues will probably not be the only ‘big name’ quoted as having an interest in adding the Turkish hit man to their already crowded playing roster. Boro Chairman Steve Gibson must run a book on which of his players will be linked with moves away from the Riverside given the frequency that individuals contracted to Gareth Southgate’s squad are mentioned, usually in the London-based press, as wanting to leave the ’wasteland that is Teesside’. Yet it is vital to the plans of the only man ever to lift a trophy as Boro captain that he retains the services of a player who is doing as much to save Boro’s season this year as Stewart Downing did for the latter half of last season.

It is of course possible that Tuncay Sanli may leave Middlesbrough in January. Every player has his price although Tuncay’s is surely a hell of a lot more than £8M. It would also only be after a great deal of thought on behalf of the player himself. He has spent 18 months on Teesside and would have to be convinced that his career and his personal life would be better served by playing his football under another badge. Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal - all have been previously involved in trying to pry away - sometimes successfully sometimes not - players who otherwise would have continued to ply their trade at the Riverside Stadium. There appears to be some unwritten assumption that every player in the world aspires to play in London. This is actually only an assumption of those who support London clubs.

Tuncay Sanli will no doubt make up his own mind. Is London better than Teesside? Everyone has an opinion. As a well-known round and foul mouthed-comedian once put it ’ London Underground - what a great idea. We’ve all got sewers but who on earth thinks to put trains in them?’