Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate remains hopeful of landing Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson.
He told the News of the World: "I don't fear my relationship with the chairman ending. I have unique support from him. He has seen the worst possible scenarios for the club when it went into administration.
"Possibly one of the reasons for what we have done over the last couple of years is to stop that happening again.
"If we sign Ben we will have spent £2m this year. Two teams around us have just spent £30m. It is tough."