Dimi in keeper’s shirt next season?

YOU wouldn’t want to back against the evergreen Dimi Konstantopoulos winning back the Boro’s No.1 jersey next season.

It had looked odds-on as if the Greek keeper, who has been limited to just one first team appearance last season, would be following Victor Valdes and Brad Guzan out of the door.

But there are indications from the Riverside that Boro are considering offering Dimi another year’s extension.

It’s highly likely that Konstantopoulos, who now runs a restaurant in Middlesbrough, would jump at the chance of an extended deal on Teesside.

The final decision is likely to rest with Boro’s incoming manager. But, whoever gets the job, he will surely be delighted to have Konstantopoulos among his back-up keepers.

The problem of course is that Dimi is not very good at back-up. He usually rises to the top of the pile pretty quickly.

So it would be no surprise to see him, approaching his 39th birthday, keeping goal again next season.

Certainly, as a fans’ favourite, he will be welcomed back.

The parting of the ways with Valdes was no surprise. Good luck to him if he can complete a deal with Manchester City, or any other Premier League club.

But, as one of the higher-paid players on the wage bill, Valdes was always going to be one of those men that a new manager might not fancy.

The top earners can be a burden to new managers because they realise that, if they can be eased out of the club, then they can be replaced with two or sometimes three new signings.

The reason for Valdes’ departure was listed as a disagreement with staff members, and that may well be true.

But it is for the best and now we must wish the Spaniard every success in the future because he always put a shift in for Boro on the pitch.

There will be no tears shed over the departure of Guzan, who is set to join Atlanta United in the MLS.

The American keeper has blown hot and cold, just as he did at Aston Villa during the previous season.

He still always did his best and produced one or two cracking performances, when deputising for Valdes.

But some dodgy keeping in Brad’s final couple of games means that he will leave with the fans’ best wishes, but will not be missed.